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A Republican lawmaker has suggested that President Donald Trump may be shielding wealthy and influential individuals connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Getting into it: While speaking to MSNBC, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said, “I actually don’t think [Trump has] done anything criminal; I think he may be covering for some rich and powerful people that are friends of his,” Massie told host Chris Hayes. “One of them is in Epstein’s black book,” he added. Massie argued that public embarrassment should not be a reason to keep the Epstein files sealed, saying, “We’ve got to get it out in the open, regardless of whose friends might be incriminated.”

Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) are pushing a bipartisan discharge petition that would force a House floor vote on requiring the DOJ to release all Epstein-related documents. Their legislation, filed this week as Congress returned from recess, would require the full disclosure of investigative records while allowing redactions to protect victims’ personal and medical information. The petition needs 218 signatures to bypass House leadership, and both lawmakers say they’re confident they’ll reach that threshold.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Republican leadership strongly oppose the petition, arguing that it’s unnecessary and poorly drafted. Johnson has pointed to the Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation, which has already released tens of thousands of related documents, and warned that Massie’s bill fails to protect the privacy of victims. “We want to bring justice to every single person who is involved in the Epstein evils of the cover-up,” Johnson said, “but we also want to be equally certain that we protect the innocent victims.”

This all comes as survivors of Epstein’s abuse are on Capitol Hill, speaking out publicly and urging Congress to release the full set of investigative files. Ten survivors joined Massie and Khanna at a press conference, with some sharing their stories for the first time.

While many support the push for transparency, they’ve also called for the need to protect their identities and sensitive personal information in any document release.