Chicago – February 18, 2026
President Donald Trump declared himself “totally exonerated” by recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, asserting they prove he had no involvement with the disgraced financier.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “I have nothing to hide… They’ve been pulled in,” referring to Democrats like the Clintons, while dismissing scrutiny as politically motivated. The files, compelled by bipartisan legislation signed by Trump last year, mention him over 1,000 times but contain no new criminal charges, per the Justice Department.
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), a House Oversight Committee member, countered sharply on MS NOW, saying, “Donald Trump is lying… It’s the opposite.” He cited redacted documents revealing Trump’s prolonged Epstein ties, including a disputed Mar-a-Lago ban and victim recruitment there, urging full disclosure of 2.5 million withheld files.
The exchange highlights partisan rifts amid ongoing probes, with Walkinshaw decrying redactions as a “cover-up.” No prosecutions have stemmed from the releases.
