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Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican Party is so tight that it often feels like no one inside the party dares to speak out against him. But former congressman Adam Kinzinger has never played by those rules. He’s been one of the very few Republicans to consistently call out Trump’s behaviour — and the latest accusation involving Jeffrey Epstein has pushed his disgust to a new level.
For years, there have been rumours about Trump’s ties to Epstein. The former president has bounced between pretending he had nothing to do with Epstein and promising to “get to the bottom” of the case, likely just to protect his own image. But now, The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump allegedly sent Epstein a crude birthday letter back in 2003. The letter, according to the paper, included a sketch of a naked woman and a creepy message. Federal investigators apparently saw the card in a private photo album kept by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate.
Trump denies everything and is suing The Wall Street Journal for $20 billion, calling their reporting “fake news.” He’s dismissed the entire story as boring and irrelevant, which hasn’t helped his case at all, especially not with people like Kinzinger watching closely.
Kinzinger, who served on the January 6 committee and stood against Trump even when it cost him his political career, took to X (formerly Twitter) and called this the most disgusted Trump has ever made him feel. Coming from someone who’s seen and spoken out about Trump’s ugliest moments, that’s saying a lot.
Most Republicans are keeping quiet, as they usually do when Trump is in hot water. Whether it was backing his massive spending bills or ignoring his actions during the Capitol riots, many GOP members stay silent because they fear his political power. A single insult from Trump can flip his base against any Republican who steps out of line, and most would rather stay in office than stand up for what’s right.
That’s never been Adam Kinzinger’s style. He’s been one of the few to openly challenge Trump and refuse to back down. When Trump tried to bully him with threats of jail time over the January 6 committee, Kinzinger stood firm and said he wasn’t afraid. And now, in the face of this Epstein scandal, he’s again stepping forward, refusing to look away.
Years ago, when the Republican Party censured Kinzinger for daring to hold Trump accountable, he warned them: the GOP used to be a party that welcomed all people. Now, it has become a party that shelters ignorance, racism, and hate.
It’s a powerful statement, one that’s starting to resonate more widely as Trump’s controversies pile up. Even some outside of politics are beginning to turn away. The lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal might be another Trump stunt, but it’s also a serious moment. If the paper went to print despite Trump’s threats, they must believe they’ve got the evidence.
Only time, and maybe a courtroom, will reveal the truth. But what’s already clear is this: no matter how loud Trump is, Adam Kinzinger won’t stop calling him out. And that’s a voice the GOP, and the country, can’t afford to ignore.