Rep. Ro Khanna Thinks The Epstein Files Could Help Democrats 'fight Trump Effectively'

CLEVELAND — Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who has been asserting himself arsenic his party’s starring sound for releasing nan Jeffrey Epstein files, brought nan noisy nationalist fight to an improbable assemblage Friday: a gathering of policy-oriented Democratic mayors.

Khanna acknowledged that it was a departure from his accustomed accent connected economics.

“I’m little successful nan news for nan caller economical patriotism and much successful nan news for nan Epstein files,” he said successful his remarks astatine a Democratic Mayors Association convention astatine a skyscraping edifice overlooking Lake Erie. “I’ll show you why it matters. It matters because earlier you tin inquire group to support authorities initiatives, you request group to spot government.”

Khanna’s quality present came astatine nan extremity of a week successful which nan House broke for summertime recess arsenic Democrats many times pushed nan Epstein issue. He and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., joined to co-sponsor a measurement that intends to unit President Donald Trump’s management to people “all unclassified records” connected Epstein, nan precocious financier and convicted activity offender who died by termination awaiting proceedings connected activity trafficking charges successful 2019. That solution is expected to travel up aft nan recess has ended.

Epstein counted Trump and different powerful group arsenic friends earlier he was criminally charged, though nan president agelong agone disavowed him. The lawsuit has exposed a rift betwixt Trump and cardinal figures successful his MAGA activity who for years person demanded much transparency connected Epstein and are upset that Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi person not provided it.

“People say, ‘Well, why did you lead this conflict connected nan Epstein files?’ And to me, it’s astir spot successful authorities and transparency,” Khanna said successful an question and reply pinch NBC News. “If you don’t person spot and transparency, really are you going to get Medicare for all? How are you going to get a 21st period Marshall Plan? It’s possibly nan kryptonite that gets MAGA to unravel.”

Khanna’s reside was besides notable for its constrictive attraction connected Vice President JD Vance, who was antecedently among nan MAGA leaders pushing for nan merchandise of nan Epstein files. Vance is simply a apt Republican statesmanlike campaigner successful 2028, erstwhile Trump is term-limited. Khanna, meanwhile, has been open astir his interest successful seeking nan Democratic information that twelvemonth — and conspicuous successful his attraction to Vance.

“Because I’m successful nan vice president’s hometown again, I thought I would punctual him of immoderate of nan things he said,” said Khanna, concisely confusing Cleveland pinch Vance’s downstate location guidelines successful Cincinnati earlier reference from immoderate of nan vice president’s aged societal media posts astir nan Epstein case.

Vance, for example, had posted arsenic a Senate campaigner successful December 2021: “If you’re a journalist and you’re not asking questions astir this lawsuit you should beryllium ashamed of yourself. What intent do you moreover serve? I’m judge there’s a mediate people teen location who could usage immoderate harassing correct now but possibly effort to do your occupation erstwhile successful a while.”

Khanna changeable backmost Friday: “Maybe you should beryllium doing your occupation now. You were passionate astir this rumor erstwhile you were asking group successful this authorities for their votes. What happened?”

A spokesperson for nan vice president declined to remark Friday connected Khanna’s remarks.

Vance has mentioned Epstein sparingly successful caller weeks, pinch nan White House tightening its grip complete nan messaging connected what has go a thorny subject. In a station Thursday connected X, Vance criticized The Wall Street Journal’s caller sum of Trump’s narration pinch Epstein.

Asked successful nan question and reply if he was attempting to position himself arsenic Vance’s strongest Democratic rival successful 2028, Khanna did not reply directly. He alternatively based on that he and Vance person different views astir what it intends to beryllium an American, pointing to Vance’s recent speech astatine nan blimpish Claremont Institute. Vance asserted location that “the modern near seems dedicated … to saying you don’t beryllium successful America unless you work together pinch progressive liberalism successful 2025.”

Vance, Khanna said, is “trying to articulate a much parochial imagination of American identity. And I deliberation that he’s a existent foil successful my conception of American identity.”

Khanna besides said he believes an Epstein-centric connection helps Democrats — and him.

“I’ve ne'er gotten this benignant of Republican support connected thing I person done earlier from nan MAGA base,” Khanna said. “There person been a batch of things that nan Democrats person screamed our heads disconnected about, but it’s ever conscionable nan Democrats. Sometimes it’s nan Democrats mixed pinch constitution Republicans specified arsenic Liz Cheney aliases Mitt Romney aliases Paul Ryan.

“But it’s ne'er been nan Democrats who are mixed pinch nan loudest voices successful nan MAGA world, and that is, I think, nan cardinal to not conscionable fighting Trump, but fighting Trump effectively.”

Asked why he didn’t telephone for much transparency astir nan Epstein files while President Joe Biden was president, Khanna pointed to a 2019 societal media post successful which he expressed support for legislature Democrats investigating nan circumstances of Epstein’s death.

Trump and his management “raised nan stakes,” Khanna added, erstwhile he antecedently indicated support for releasing nan files and erstwhile Bondi antecedently said an Epstein customer database existed.

“It [was] erstwhile nan Justice Department issued a memorandum saying location was nary database aliases request to merchandise much accusation that Massie and I thought authorities was needed,” he said.

Khanna marveled astatine really overmuch attraction nan rumor is driving for him now, particularly since House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for an early recess arsenic his members complained astir Democrats many times offering Epstein-related amendments. Khanna said he and Massie are scheduled to look together connected 2 Sunday news programs this weekend, including NBC’s “Meet nan Press.”

The congressmen person been friends for years and agreed to activity together connected nan solution aft Khanna’s effort to present an amendment to push for nan files to beryllium released.

Massie “texted maine correct distant and said, ‘Ro, why don’t we do this arsenic bipartisan? Are you good pinch that?’” Khanna recalled. “And I said, ‘That’d beryllium great, but tin we really make it work?’”

That remains a mobility arsenic House members spell location to their districts for nan summertime recess. When they return to Washington successful September, Massie and Khanna will activity to unafraid nan 218 signatures needed to record a alleged discharge petition and unit a ballot connected their resolution.

Khanna said he is assured they will person nan support they need. He besides expressed small interest that partnering pinch Republicans, including hardcore MAGA supporters who connected galore different issues clasp views that astir Democrats find objectionable, will backfire connected nan party.

“I deliberation location are 2 ways of fighting Trump and MAGA,” he said. “One is nan view, which has been our party’s position for almost 10 years, which is they said we person to disassociate from them, condemn them, and not get our hands soiled and conflict them all, and not effort to perceive to why location is anger aliases what their causes are. I person ne'er taken that approach. I person taken nan attack of respecting nan voters who voted for Trump, and trying to understand wherever they’re coming from, while being patient successful my convictions.”

Such collaboration could beryllium a reliable sell. Khanna’s Epstein-heavy reside to nan Democratic mayors received polite applause but immoderate puzzled reactions from a fewer attendees who privately wondered whether it was nan due venue for specified a message.

No different speaker Friday dwelled arsenic overmuch connected Epstein arsenic Khanna did, though Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin concisely mentioned him successful passing.

“It’s besides not our occupation to protect Donald Trump and his rich, excuse my language, asshole friends who are pals pinch Jeffrey Epstein, which seems to beryllium a clear privilege for Republicans correct now,” Martin said successful his remarks.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, a Democrat who besides addressed nan mayors Friday, said successful an question and reply aft his reside that he saw room for Epstein successful nan party’s messaging.

“I deliberation broadly, it’s not needfully astir Jeffrey Epstein aliases Donald Trump. I deliberation it’s astir transparency and accountability, and I deliberation that’s what voters expect from their elected officials,” Davis said. “I deliberation we tin do aggregate things astatine 1 time. I deliberation we tin talk astir nan affordability issues. I deliberation we tin talk astir really we’re going to make our economical business better, while besides holding authorities leaders successful Washington accountable for nan things that they’ve done.”