Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) expressed confidence on ABC's "This Week" that a significant number of House Republicans would support the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. He estimated that "a hundred or more" Republicans could back the initiative. Host Jonathan Karl questioned Massie about the implications of this potential vote, noting that former President Trump had previously opposed Massie's discharge petition.

Massie responded, stating, "I think we could have a deluge of Republicans, a hundred or more. I hope to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote." He criticized Trump for labeling the Epstein investigation as a "hoax," suggesting that the former president's recent call for investigations might be a tactic to delay the release of the files.

"If it’s a hoax, I have another concern about these investigations that he has announced. If they have ongoing investigations in certain areas, those documents can’t be released. So this might be a big smokescreen, these investigations, to open up a bunch of them as a last-ditch effort to prevent the release of the Epstein files," Massie said.

Karl pointed out the unusual nature of Trump demanding an investigation while only targeting Democrats. He asked Massie why Trump would want to prevent the release of the files. Massie replied, "You know, I have never said that these files will implicate Donald Trump. I really don’t think that they will. I think he is trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends, billionaires, donors to his campaign, friends in his social circles. That’s my operating theory on why he is trying so hard to keep these files closed."