The House Judiciary Committee’s Republican X account caused a stir and sparked outrage when what was expected to be a significant disclosure turned out to be a mere internet prank.
Anticipation was high for the release of the Epstein client list, only for the House Judiciary GOP account to post a misleading claim that the “Epstein Files” were out, accompanied by an encrypted link. However, instead of unveiling crucial documents, the link led to Rick Astley’s 1987 hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” a classic internet prank known as “rickrolling.”
The GOP House Judiciary Committee account, which is controlled by Chairman Jim Jordan, posted a Rickroll instead of Epstein files and now supporters are annoyed and angry.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar)
February 27, 2025
Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna was quick to express her outrage, calling for accountability. She emphatically stated, “The amount of people hurt by Epstein is not a joke. Whoever posted this is going to get fired. Disgusting behavior.”
The amount of people hurt by Epstein is not a joke. Whoever posted this is going to get fired. Disgusting behavior.
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina)
February 28, 2025
As of now, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) remains silent on potential disciplinary actions, but Luna’s comments hint at impending consequences.
This incident has only added fuel to the fire of conservative frustration, particularly after the underwhelming release of the redacted Epstein Files Phase 1 by the Trump administration under Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The documents were handed to select MAGA influencers, intended to reveal Epstein’s network but criticized for their lack of new insights.
These influencers, presented with binders labeled as the files, faced backlash, including from the liberal media and some conservatives, for overhyping the release. Social media reactions have echoed a sense of disappointment.
Attorney General Bondi, feeling misled by the FBI regarding the completeness of the documents, shared her dissatisfaction. In correspondence with FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi disclosed that, despite her efforts, only around 200 pages were provided, while the FBI’s New York office holds “thousands of pages” that remain undisclosed. She has demanded these documents be furnished to the Department of Justice by February 28 and urged Director Patel to investigate the omission.
