Jeff Van Drew: “today I want to talk about hypocrisy. Let me be clear. I was a cosponsor of this very bill from the beginning, from jump…”

“today I want to talk about hypocrisy. Let me be clear. I was a cosponsor of this very bill from the beginning, from jump start, because we should never protect pedophiles. For months, my Democratic colleagues have done what they think is politically convenient through all the yelling, through all the tears, and through all the sadness. They say releasing the Epstein list is of grave concern to them. If that was true, where were they during the 4 years of the Biden Presidency? Why didn't they demand the release of these files from jump start in year one? Mr. Speaker, why didn't they ask for them in year two? If that wasn't good enough, why didn't they ask for them maybe in year three? They had control. They didn't even ask in his final year of office. Other than a single letter the ranking member wrote in 2019, a single letter, not one Democrat on the committee spoke out about Epstein or his victims of this very terrible tragedy, other than to say he didn't like the plea deal. Mr. Speaker, let me say this: When they stand here today, insisting how badly they want these files released, why didn't they do it? Yet they stayed silent for year after year after year under Joe Biden. It is impossible. Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to see that as genuine. What I see is a group more focused on scoring political points and drama than protecting abused children. Mr. Speaker, the record is clear.…”