Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) openly admitted on the Senate floor that he’s working to shield President Donald Trump and his Justice Department from scrutiny in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
During a Thursday session, Mullin confirmed he’s trying to give the Trump administration “cover” as pressure builds to release long-hidden documents tied to Epstein’s crimes and associates.
Democrats, led by Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), have demanded full disclosure. “The Committee demands that the Department of Justice produce the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates within 30 calendar days,” Gallego’s request states, according to MSNBC.
But Mullin pushed back. Instead of backing a resolution that would compel the Department of Justice to release the files, Mullin offered his own version—one that does not force action and instead calls on judges to consider releasing grand jury records, which typically reveal little and may not contain key evidence.
He blasted Democrats’ efforts as political. “What my colleague’s resolution does is truly trying to tell the FBI and the DOJ how they can proceed in doing their job and how they can actually present the information,” Mullin said.
Then came the clearest statement yet. “What we’re simply wanting to do here is give him cover,” Mullin said, referring directly to Trump.
Despite past promises from Trump officials to release the Epstein documents, Mullin is now standing in the way. Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, now leading the FBI, both pledged transparency. Attorney General Pam Bondi even said, “I have the documents on my desk.” She has released only one volume, and that went straight to far-right influencers.
Mullin continued to frame the effort to force transparency as a political stunt. “I’m sure this will be handled like every other thing, like going after the baseless impeachments or the baseless special counsels,” he said, accusing Democrats of playing games.
In the end, Mullin blocked the Democratic proposal. “If my colleague from Arizona actually wants transparency,” he said, “then he would drop his objection to my resolution and just simply have mine go through.”
Watch the clip below.
