WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Thursday she supports transparency in the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein but does not believe Congress should mandate the release of government files related to him.
“I don’t think that we need to have congressional action on this, and so I haven’t actually voted on that. I don’t know that that’s an opportunity that I’ll have, or should have,” Capito (R-WV) told WV MetroNews. “I think the Department of Justice and the president are going to feel the pressure here.”
Sen. Capito added, “I just think full transparency is always. Full sunlight is always the best policy.”
Capito’s remarks come amid growing public interest and outrage over the contents and failed disclosure of documents related to Epstein’s activities, associates and death. Although the Department of Justice recently claimed there is ‘no evidence’ Epstein blackmailed powerful individuals or maintained a “client list,” outrage from voters in both parties have demanded full disclosure.
Legislation introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and co-sponsored by several conservatives, would require the Justice Department to release all unclassified materials tied to Epstein, including flight logs, immunity deals and internal DOJ communications. The bill also sets strict guidelines for permissible redactions and mandates a report to Congress outlining any withheld documents and the officials named in them.
While the measure has gained support among some Republicans in the House, Capito distanced herself from the effort, favoring voluntary action by the executive branch.
Critics quickly seized on Capito’s comments as emblematic of what they describe as political doubletalk, arguing that lawmakers often claim to support transparency while avoiding any action that would meaningfully enforce it. Capito’s position, they say, reflects a common political strategy of expressing rhetorical support for openness while ultimately allowing key documents to remain sealed.
The Trump administration, which includes Attorney General Pam Bondi, has indicated it does not plan to release the entirety of the Epstein files. Any comprehensive disclosure, according to legal experts, would almost certainly require an act of Congress — and potentially a veto override — to take effect.
Despite mounting pressure from both the public and some corners of Capitol Hill, the fate of the Epstein documents remains uncertain.
