Iowa’s Ashley Hinson opposes effort to force a vote on releasing Epstein files

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said she opposes an effort to force a vote on requiring the Department of Justice to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie announced Tuesday plans to use a procedural move to push for a vote on a resolution that would require Attorney General Pam Bondi to publicly release all Epstein-related DOJ files.

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“I think we can all agree Jeffrey Epstein was a disgusting human being and an absolute pedophile,” Hinson told reporters Wednesday during a weekly conference call. “We know that to be true. And I think Thomas Massie is approaching this in the wrong way, and he's doing it in a way that we give the floor to Democrats, which is not how we should be doing business.”

Hinson said Americans are right to have questions and demand justice for the victims, but trusts the administration's commitment to the truth.

“I do trust President Trump here and Pam Bondi to do the right thing, and (FBI Director) Kash Patel to do the right thing at the FBI,” she said. “And I can tell you this, that I know that a lot of people love to use issues as political wedges. I think we're seeing that a little bit out of Tom Massie and what's happening here.”

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at his own supporters and members of his own party who have been calling for more transparency into the DOJ's investigation. Trump has faced backlash from some of his most loyal backers over his administration’s handling of documents surrounding the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, whose 2019 death by suicide in prison has sparked numerous conspiracy theories.

Trump's views on Epstein have changed over time. He praised Epstein in 2002 but later claimed they had a falling out. Trump has denied knowing about Epstein’s crimes, and helped fuel conspiracy theories by teasing the release of Epstein documents as a candidate, but later stated there are no more to release.

“It’s all been a big hoax,” he told reporters. “It’s perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.”

Inflation heats up under Trump tariffs

Hinson also was asked about inflation ticking up last month amid early signs that White House tariffs are beginning to drive up the cost for goods.

Consumer prices in June increased 2.7 percent from a year ago, according to a report Tuesday from the Labor Department. Prices rose 0.3 percent between May and June, a larger increase than the previous month.

Hinson said inflation has eased since Trump took office, meaning prices have risen at a slower pace than they had under the administration of former President Joe Biden.

“Housing costs over the course of Biden's presidency skyrocketed through the roof and created a real unaffordability crisis for Iowa families and American families, and you're starting to see that turn around,” she told reporters.

Hinson also said Trump is focused on expanding market access and getting the best possible trade deals for Iowa farmers and families, noting the administration’s efforts striking trade agreements with the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“And we're hopeful that we're able to get more of these deals across the finish line as soon as possible,” she said.

Hinson also pointed to provisions contained in the GOP’s sweeping tax and spending bill recently signed into law by Trump that she said will help struggling working families. That includes no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, an expanded Child Tax Credit of $2,200 per child, and a $6,000 added tax deduction for seniors ages 65 and older.

“Those are real dollars going back to American families,” she said. “ … So my message to them is we are hard at work getting the best deal for Iowans, whether it's on the trade deals through tax policy like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act or the peace deals that the president is working on around the world.”

Hinson also discussed the administration's efforts to strengthen the U.S. food supply chain, and her introduction of legislation aimed at bolstering the resilience of the U.S. food and agricultural supply chain against potential disruptions, particularly those stemming from adversaries like China. The bill focuses on mitigating vulnerabilities in critical agricultural inputs and supply chains, by requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct regular assessments to identify risks and security vulnerabilities to the ag sector.

By mandating systematic assessments and promoting domestic production, the act seeks to create a more robust and self-reliant agricultural infrastructure, Hinson said.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com