Pelosi calls Epstein files uproar a ‘distraction’ – backtracks an hour later

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made a quick U-turn Thursday after initially fuming that the discourse surrounding government documents related to notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was a “distraction.”

About an hour after suggesting that Americans should focus on the debate over the rescissions package being considered in Congress, rather than the so-called “Epstein files,” Pelosi weighed in on President Trump’s handling of the convicted sex predator’s case – demanding that documents be released. 

“This is a distraction,” Pelosi told MSNBC host Chris Jansing, when asked about what Trump could do to get his supporters to move on from the Epstein matter. “We have major issues right here with things we’re voting on today in the Congress.” 

“And instead we’re talking about him – about this thing, and his own base has its own views of what the president should do,” she continued. 

“I’ll leave it up to them to talk it out.” 

“[W]hether it’s Jeffrey Epstein or Alcatraz, it’s all off the subject of what they’re doing with this budget that is harmful to the kitchen table, meeting the kitchen-table needs of the American people,” Pelosi fumed. 

When asked to clarify her comments, Pelosi doubled-down, calling the Epstein debate and Trump’s vision of refurbishing Alcatraz so it can once again house prisoners “both distractions.” 

“I think that they’re off the subject of what is happening, changing the character and the culture of America by undermining –  by placing huge, trillions of dollars of national debt on future generations to carry forward at the expense of the health, nutrition and education of the American people,” she argued. 

Shortly after her MSNBC appearance, Pelosi signaled support for more disclosures and called Trump out for refusing to appoint a special prosecutor in the case.  

“For reasons known only to him, Donald Trump is now refusing to appoint a special prosecutor in the Epstein case after weeks of refusing to release the Epstein files,” she wrote on X. 

“This week, House Democrats voted unanimously to release the files. Republicans voted to keep them hidden,” she added. “With deep respect for the victims, their trauma and their privacy, everyone on the Epstein list must be held accountable no matter who they are.”

“Release the files.” 

A spokesperson for Pelosi did not respond to The Post’s request for comment about her about-face. 

Trump later announced that he was directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure the release of grand jury testimony related to Epstein’s federal child sex trafficking case out of the Southern District of New York.