“The dog that hasn’t barked is Trump”: Epstein’s letters ignite new storm

House Democrats have released a new batch of emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, reigniting debate over the late financier’s ties to political and public figures — including U.S. president Donald Trump and former Prince Andrew.

The disclosure has also accelerated a bipartisan push in Congress to make all remaining Epstein-related documents public.

The New Emails

Among the messages, one sent by Epstein to his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2011 reads:

“I want you to realize that the dog that hasn’t barked is Trump… [Victim] spent hours at my house with him.”

In another email, Epstein claimed that Trump “knew about the girls.”

Democrats say the correspondence raises questions about what Trump knew regarding Epstein’s criminal activities, though no new allegations or charges have been filed.

White House Dismisses the Allegations

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the Democrats’ release as “a distraction,” saying:

“These emails prove absolutely nothing other than that President Trump did nothing wrong.”

Trump himself called the revelations “another Jeffrey Epstein hoax,” insisting Democrats were trying to divert attention from the government shutdown.

“The Democrats are bringing up the Epstein Hoax again to deflect from their failures on the Shutdown,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Congress Pushes for Transparency

Despite the political storm, a rare bipartisan alliance has emerged around the Epstein Files Transparency Act — a measure requiring the Department of Justice to release all unclassified documents related to the case.

The initiative, led by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, gained its final 218th signature on November 12 when newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva signed the discharge petition, forcing a floor vote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that the bill will be scheduled for debate next week.

If approved, it would compel the Justice Department to declassify tens of thousands of Epstein records while protecting victims’ identities.

What the Files Contain

The committee says it has already reviewed over 23,000 documents, including correspondence between Epstein, Maxwell, and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.

In one email, Epstein wrote:

“Prince Andrew and Trump today. Too funny. Recall Prince Andrew’s accuser came out of Mar-a-Lago.”

The message further undermines Andrew’s 2019 BBC denial that he had ever met his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.

She previously released a photograph of Andrew with his arm around her waist inside Maxwell’s London home and claimed Epstein forced her to have sex with him when she was 17.

Andrew settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 while denying liability.

Other files reference meetings with tech figures such as Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, adding to questions about Epstein’s access to powerful circles before his 2019 death in federal custody.

Survivors Demand Full Disclosure

Epstein survivor Danielle Bensky welcomed the documents’ release but urged Congress to go further:

“We’ve been banging on the transparency drum for so long. I know there are politics involved, but everyone should be on the side of releasing all the Epstein files once and for all.”

Her statement echoed calls from advocates who say victims deserve a complete record of how Epstein and his network operated.

Divisions Within the GOP

While the White House dismissed the emails, some Republicans — including Reps. Don Bacon and Lauren Boebert — said they will support the petition.

Boebert reportedly received a direct call from Trump urging her to withdraw her signature, but she refused.

Rep. Nancy Mace called the Democrats’ timing “pathetic” yet added that she supports full transparency for survivors.

The division highlights the political risk for Trump as he faces renewed scrutiny of his past connections to Epstein.

The Road Ahead

The House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act could take place in December. Even if the bill passes, it must clear the Republican-controlled Senate and receive Trump’s signature — a remote prospect given the White House’s current stance.

Still, lawmakers say the effort is about accountability and the public’s right to know.

“Justice must be transparent — no matter how powerful the names in those files,” said Rep. Khanna.