ALBURTIS, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie said Monday he will support releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files when U.S. House members force a vote on the matter Tuesday.
Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, has been a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
The two men have tried for months to stave off a vote on releasing details of the federal government's investigation into the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
"As of now, it is scheduled by the speaker to be voted on tomorrow, and I'll be voting in favor of it."U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, following a news conference at Alburtis Fire Station
Mackenzie didn't sign the discharge petition that forced the resolution to reach the floor of the House. But now that four Republicans and every House Democrat have signed on, he said he will vote for full transparency.
He previously said during a telephone town hall this year that he would vote to release the files.
"As of now, it is scheduled by the speaker to be voted on tomorrow, and I'll be voting in favor of it," Mackenzie said following a news conference at Alburtis Fire Station.
Trump is among several high-profile figures who had dealings with Epstein and co-defendant Ghislaine Maxwell over the past 30 years, including former President Bill Clinton; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York; Elon Musk; and Bill Gates, to name a few.
Alexander Acosta, who's lenient prosecution of Epstein in 2008 has drawn criticism, later served as Secretary of Labor in Trump's first administration.
Epstein emails released
Epstein's death while in federal custody sparked an outpouring of conspiracy theories that he was silenced to protect the rich and powerful.
Since returning to power, the Trump administration has been under pressure to release the files into multiple investigations of Epstein's crimes.
"Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever. Of course he knew about the girls because he asked Ghislaine to stop."Jeffrey Epstein, in a recently released email
Over the summer, Democrats released copy of a message Trump allegedly sent Epstein that included a doodle of a woman's body with Trump's signature in place of her genitals.
Trump has denied writing the message.
Last week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a trove of Epstein's emails, including ones where he discussed his relationship with Trump.
In one email, as the FBI was investigating Epstein for a second round of sexual abuse charges, he appeared to reference a falling out with Trump.
"Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever. Of course he knew about the girls because he asked Ghislaine to stop," the email read.
Trump told reporters over the summer that he kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago golf course for "being a creep."
Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein who died by suicide in April, was working at the golf course when Maxwell recruited her to work for Epstein.
Trump reverses course
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February that she had Epstein's client list sitting on her desk in February, but the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department released a joint statement in July that said no such document existed.
For most of the year, Trump has fought efforts to release the reports.
National media has reported that Trump has threatened to find primary challengers for any House Republicans who signed the petition.
Democrats criticized Johnson for taking a month to swear in U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., after she won a special election. She proved to be the final signature needed to force a vote on releasing the files.
Trump reversed course on Sunday — after a majority of House members had signed the petition — saying House Republicans should vote to release the files.
It remains to be seen if the Republican-controlled Senate will put the matter to a vote.
