Rep. Shri Thanedar escalated his criticism of President Donald Trump this week, accusing the president of illegally concealing files tied to allegations of sexual abuse involving minors and calling for his resignation. The Michigan Democrat’s remarks came in response to a recent NPR investigation reporting that the Justice Department withheld or removed certain Jeffrey Epstein-related documents that reference Trump.
In his post, Thanedar wrote, “Donald Trump illegally hid files alleging that he raped a child. This is by far the most heinous scandal of any President in American history. He needs to resign in disgrace and face charges.” The statement marks one of the most forceful condemnations yet from the congressman, who has built a reputation in the House as a vocal and consistent critic of Trump.
Donald Trump illegally hid files alleging that he raped a child.
— Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) February 24, 2026
This is by far the most heinous scandal of any President in American history.
He needs to resign in disgrace and face charges. https://t.co/N2GVyCHni7
The comments followed an investigation by NPR that found the Justice Department withheld some Epstein files related to allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor decades ago. According to NPR’s reporting, more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and related notes appear to be catalogued in internal records but are not publicly available in the Justice Department’s online database, despite a federal transparency law mandating the release of Epstein-related documents.
The missing materials reportedly include records connected to a woman who alleged that she was introduced to Trump by Jeffrey Epstein in the early 1980s when she was around 13 years old. The allegation appears in internal FBI documents and Justice Department presentation materials reviewed by NPR. Out of millions of pages released under the transparency law, the specific claim against Trump appears only in summary lists and slides, while interview records referenced in FBI logs are absent from the public database.
The White House has rejected the allegations. A spokeswoman told NPR that Trump “has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him” and reiterated the president’s longstanding claim that he has been “totally exonerated” in matters relating to Epstein.
“I have nothing to hide. I have been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” said Donald Trump.
— SunDeep Mehra (@SundeepMehra7) February 17, 2026
After a very thorough investigation, conducted, reviewed, and apparently signed off by himself, the verdict was unanimous: totally exonerated. pic.twitter.com/m03DRtY2yy
Thanedar’s response aligns with his broader political posture. Since arriving in Congress, he has frequently positioned himself as one of Trump’s most outspoken Democratic critics, supporting investigations into the president and backing legislative and oversight efforts aimed at his administration. His latest statement adds to mounting pressure from some Democrats who are calling for expanded congressional inquiries into both the underlying allegations and the Justice Department’s handling of the files.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have already begun examining the matter. Rep. Robert Garcia, the panel’s ranking member, said in a statement that oversight Democrats reviewed unredacted evidence logs at the Justice Department and believe the agency “appears to have illegally withheld” FBI interviews connected to the survivor who accused Trump. The committee is expected to pursue further investigation into the department’s document release process.
The controversy also unfolds as additional Epstein-related files have been taken down and reposted in recent weeks to correct redactions involving victims’ names and personal information. The Justice Department has acknowledged the scale of the document release effort and said it is working to address privacy concerns while complying with congressional deadlines.
Thanedar’s demand that Trump resign and face charges significantly raises the political stakes, even as federal officials maintain that no documents were concealed for political reasons and the White House denies wrongdoing. With investigations ongoing and further document reviews expected, the dispute over the Epstein files is poised to remain a flashpoint in Washington.
