WASHINGTON — During an emotional news conference held hours before the House was set to vote on releasing all of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said President Donald Trump's handling of the case has been "destructive" to his MAGA movement.
"I've never owed him anything, but I fought for him, for the policies and for America First, and he called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition," Greene said, standing beside Epstein victims and families.
"Let me tell you what a traitor is: A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves," she continued, flanked by Epstein survivors. "A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America, and Americans like the women standing behind me."
Greene said that the fight over the Epstein files and Trump’s handling of the situation “has been one of the most destructive things to MAGA.”
“Watching this actually turn into a fight has ripped MAGA apart, and the only thing that will speak to the powerful, courageous women behind me is when action is actually taken to release these files, and the American people won’t tolerate any other bulls---,” she said.
Reached for comment on the press conference, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "Democrats and the media knew about Epstein and his victims for years and did nothing to help them while President Trump was calling for transparency, and is now delivering on it with thousands of pages of documents as part of the ongoing Oversight investigation."
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been pushing for the Justice Department to release some of the still-undisclosed Epstein files. Trump has frequently referred to the push to release the files as a "hoax," including during an unrelated White House event on Tuesday.
The House is expected to vote on Tuesday on a bill to compel the Justice Department to release its Epstein files. The bill would still need to pass the Senate. On Monday, Trump said that he would sign the legislation if it passes both chambers of Congress.
Greene, once one of Trump's closest allies, has increasingly drifted away from the president in recent months. The congresswoman has criticized the president's sweeping tariffs and broken with his stance on Israel, referring to the war in Gaza as a "genocide." But the tensions came to a head after Greene began to speak out against the administration's handling of the Epstein case.
Greene was an early vocal supporter of the bipartisan push to force the administration to release the Epstein files. As she continued speaking publicly about the controversy, Trump increasingly lashed out at the congresswoman, ultimately accusing her of complaining too often and referring to her as "wacky," a "traitor" and a "disgrace" to the GOP.
Greene said on Saturday and Sunday that Trump's attacks on her have resulted in threats to her safety, including a pipe bomb threat. Asked about Greene's claims that she was in danger, Trump said, “I don’t think her life is in danger. I don’t think, frankly, I don’t think anybody cares about her.”
The debate over the Epstein files has sparked rare divisions among Republican lawmakers, most of whom are typically in lockstep with Trump and the White House.
Throughout Tuesday morning's news conference, Epstein victim also emphasized that the situation should rise above partisan politics.
Jena-Lisa Jones, an Epstein victim, criticized Trump for directing the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's connections with Democrats and others.
“I beg you, President Trump: Please stop making this political,” Jones said. “It is not about you, President Trump. You are our president. Please start acting like it. Show some class, show some real leadership, show that you actually care about the people other than yourself.”
She said that she voted for Trump, but called his behavior on the Epstein controversy "a national embarrassment."
