Maroc - RAWSTORY.COM - Raw Story - 27/Feb 23:22

'Absolutely disgusting': House Judiciary Republicans hammered over Epstein troll

The House Republican Judiciary Committee posted on X a link Thursday afternoon to what it said were the long-awaited Jeffrey Epstein files — documents that Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to release Thursday. Epstein committed suicide in prison before he could go on trial on allegations of trafficking minors. The documents have been billed as a bombshell that reveal the FBI's evidence against Epstein. However, some journalists contend at least some of the information is already public thanks to lawsuits.Even so, the link from the Judiciary GOP didn't go to the files. Instead, the committee linked to a "RickRoll," a longtime meme of the Rick Astley video "Never Gonna Give You Up."The hoodwink infuriated both the right and left on social media. ALSO READ: Plea in teen sex murder plot suggests how Trump's DOJ plans to fight extremism groupsCNN's KFile founder and investigative reporter Andy Kaczynski posted, "Why is the House GOP sending Rick Roll jokes about files on child rape?"Crooked Media's Jane Coaston was aghast. "Oh my god, it's a f---ing rickroll. They rickrolled files about a pedophile who trafficked girls."Software engineer and influencer Alex Cole harkened back to Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who students accused of "turn[ing] a blind eye' to sex abuse allegations."He also posted it, and it appeared Jordan was "mocking MAGA.""Not the first time Jim Jordan looked the other way when serious crimes were committed," Cole said. Former West Virginia state House member Derrick Evans, a Republican, replied, "Can’t believe you haven’t deleted this yet. WOW."Content creator, Rumble partner, MAGA activist and founder of AntiWokeStreams, known as @ChiefTrumpster confessed, "I had zero expectations of anything being found. What I did not expect was the official House Judiciary GOP account “Rick Roll” a release of the Epstein files detailed horrific crimes. Yikes. This better be a hack."Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R-FL) adviser Christina Pushaw implored them, "There’s still time to delete this.""As a Republican and more importantly as an American, who is no stranger to online trolling, I find this distasteful. The trafficking & r@pe of children is not a joke," she also said. "So you put Comer in charge of your account. I hope they never delete this," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), referring to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY)."Turns out child sex trafficking was just a joke to the GOP the whole time. Absolutely disgusting," said new vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, David Hogg.