Of the 25 Signatories, Zero of Them Were Republicans

LANSING, Mich. Aug. 12, 2025 — Amidst unprecedented levels of public unity and bipartisan support for the public release of all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) drafted a letter to all 15 members  of the Michigan Congressional Delegation. The letter, which was shared with all 110 House Members on Aug. 7, giving Members several days to sign onto it if interested, urged Michigan’s members of Congress to demand that Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune hold an immediate vote to require the United States Justice Department to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. 

The letter, which received 25 signatures from Democratic Members of the Michigan House, received zero signatures from Michigan’s House Republicans. 

“In case anyone has not noticed, Republicans here in the Michigan House appear determined to avoid talking about Epstein at all costs, even as the vast majority of the American public supports the release of all files related to Epstein,” Tsernoglou said. “One can only assume that since not even a single Republican member signed onto this letter, which places no blame on the Trump administration, and simply calls for the release of the files, that no Republicans here in the Michigan House believe that the Epstein files should be made public.” 

Despite attempts by the Trump administration to avoid the tension surrounding the Epstein files, and more specifically, the outcome of the DOJ’s systemic review of said files, the public continues to feel strongly that all government files related to Epstein should be made public. In the face of this pressure, a U.S. House Oversight subcommittee issued subpoenas to the DOJ, calling on the department to provide any files in its possession relating to Jeffrey Epstein. 

In response to bipartisan calls to vote for the release of the Epstein files, Speaker Mike Johnson has shut down the House Chamber until September to block any vote on Epstein. “We have seen the U.S. House Oversight subcommittee, as well as numerous members of Congress show tremendous courage and the willingness to stand up and do what they believe is right,” Tsernoglou continued. “The American public could not be any clearer in that they want all files related to Epstein made public. Even if Republicans here in Michigan and in Congress want this problem to go away, the will of the people must persist, and the Michigan Congressional Delegation needs to know that they cannot rest until all Epstein files are publicly released.”

Tsernoglou remains willing to work with Republicans at all levels to ensure that our government maintains the highest levels of ethics, accountability and transparency. This includes a willingness to work together to ensure that all of Epstein’s co-conspirators are held responsible for their actions. 

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