WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over, and lawmakers are shifting their focus to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation after Democrats released a small batch of emails from the convicted sex offender’s estate.
The documents include never-before-seen emails that raise questions about President Donald Trump’s knowledge of Epstein’s conduct of sex trafficking underage girls.
Shortly after the initial release, Republican lawmakers released tens of thousands of emails from Epstein’s estate.
Trump, who signed legislation reopening the government late Wednesday night, did not address the emails during the Oval Office ceremony. On social media, he accused Democrats of leaking the files “to distract from their role in the shutdown.”
House eyes full release of Epstein files
House Speaker Mike Johnson said a vote to compel the Department of Justice to release all Epstein-related files could take place as soon as next week.
The petition gained the necessary 218 signatures Wednesday, after newly sworn-in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva signed, forcing a House vote to release the files.
Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert also signed the petition, despite Trump’s phone calls to lawmakers urging them not to sign.
Democrats accuse Trump of Epstein ‘cover-up’
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the emails they released show Epstein discussing Trump’s silence about his activities.
In one email dated April 2, 2011, between Epstein and his longtime accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her involvement in sex trafficking minors, he wrote, “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump. [Victim] spent hours at my house with him,, he has never once mentioned. police chief etc. i’m 75% there.”
In another email from 2015, Epstein asked journalist Michael Wolff what he should do if the media asked then-candidate Trump about their friendship. Wolff replied that Epstein should let Trump “hang himself.”
‘Fake narrative’: White House pushes back on Dems
The White House released a statement shortly after the release.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of “selectively” leaking emails to “create a fake narrative to smear” the president.
“The ‘unnamed victim’ referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions,” she said.
Historic government shutdown ends after 43 days
Trump signed the bill reopening the federal government after 43 days, extending funding through January. About 650,000 furloughed employees will now return to work, while another 600,000 will receive back pay.
Democrats vowed to continue pressing for a vote to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to bringing that measure to the floor.
The White House said it expects to begin issuing paychecks to federal workers as soon as Saturday, aiming to pay all workers by next Wednesday.
NewsNation’s Diana Falzone contributed to this report.