LEILA FADEL, HOST:
For more about the reaction to the release of these Epstein documents, we've got Republican strategist Rina Shah on the line. She's also a former Republican congressional aide. Good morning, and welcome back to the program.
RINA SHAH: Hello. Nice to be with you.
FADEL: It's good to have you. So I want to start with the big revelation out of these limited-release documents, which is this birthday drawing that was first reported back in July. The administration is really coming out denying that this is the president's. What do you make of the administration's approach to this release and that birthday drawing?
SHAH: Well, this is certainly a bombshell dropped on D.C. because House Democrats releasing this very suggestive 2003 doodle allegedly signed by Trump from Epstein's birthday book has left people saying there is more evidence to show the very tight relationship these two men had. And, look, as a former Republican aide, I see that - this as a calculated Capitol Hill move to rattle the White House. But what it's done is really distracted from the most important people who are part of this entire unfortunate drama, which are the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. And now, when we look at the notes' raw details, a naked woman's sketch signed, quote-unquote, "Donald" with text about Epstein's, quote-unquote, "secrets," you know, Democrats are claiming that Trump lied about it. And now his team is calling it fake. So my experience tells me that this is classic Washington D.C. posturing. But where's the forensic proof to settle this? - is the question.
FADEL: Will this release satisfy the base that has been calling for the release of all the documents, and will it change the calculus for some Republicans who are resisting the call for more public releases?
SHAH: The drip drop of information is not satisfying the base nor anyone else, particularly not the independents that matter to this administration. We've got midterms coming up, not too long from now. And a lot can happen between now and next year, but the rate and the pace at which this continues to plague the White House has got me wondering at what point do we sort of come up to the 30,000-foot level. 'Cause right now, it's the signature that's sparking debate. You know, Trump is denying the signature, but I've reviewed the 1990s documents there. His Donald scrawl really matches closely. And without hard evidence, this is a beltway standoff.
I think it's time we focus on the truth, not speculation, again, for the sake of the survivors of Epstein and Maxwell. And then I see the GOP rebels who are leading the charge here. I stand with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina. They've bravely backed a vote as Republicans to release all of the Epstein files. And, like, people like me are saying, release them all unredacted. They're defying party pressure here.
And this week, it was so incredible to hear from Marjorie Taylor Greene when she took to the podium with her colleagues, Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna and Republican Congressman Massie, she said, I ask my Republican colleagues to choose not just one path for justice, accountability and transparency, I ask my Republican colleagues to choose every path for justice, accountability and transparency. And if that didn't get to the heart of this administration, I don't know what will. Those were powerful words.
FADEL: Really quickly, I mean, why not release them all? I mean, the Republican holdouts that are resisting this. If it's going to be popular with the base, why not just do it?
SHAH: They don't want to do it because they don't want to risk the names that have been there - people who were spotted at Epstein parties, people who have loose connections to Jeffrey Epstein and may have been unaware of the crimes he committed. They don't want those people to be embroiled in scandal.
FADEL: That's Republican strategist Rina Shah. Thank you, Rina.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
