A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, July 20, 2025 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last kind, might be upgraded and might consist of small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, see the “Today” records archive.
MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC “TODAY” SUPPORT: And our many thanks to Rachel.
I’m signed up with currently by GOP Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee, that has actually required even more openness in the Epstein situation.
Greetings, Congressman.
You have actually co-sponsored the bipartisan Epstein Data Openness Act, which would certainly compel your home to elect on whether to launch all federal government documents on Epstein.
Exactly what do you believe the federal government is keeping right here?
REP. TIM BURCHETT, (R) TENNESSEE: Well, that’s the million-dollar concern, ma’am. I– I praise the head of state and Attorney general of the United States Bondi for– for wishing to launch the grand court documents. I think that will certainly basically cover every little thing. Yet I would certainly offer everyone a caution or a– that’s a huge word, yet a caution that even if someone flew on an airplane does not indicate they’re a daggum pedophile, you understand. I– I’m– I have a great deal of rich pals. I– I desire be rich, yet I have actually taken a pledge of hardship due to my little girl trips equines.
So– yet I have a great deal of rich pals, and they fly on individuals’s airplanes. And their aircraft will be down, and they’ll state, hey, we’re going someplace, and we’ve obtained an added seat, do you wish to go? And they do not also understand the individual on the aircraft. So, you understand, that’s– that is among things I stress over also, since I– you understand, Head of state Trump confessed that he flew on– on his daggum aircraft. And– therefore, I stress over some innocent individuals. I stress over– there mores than 1,000 individuals that this sleazebag obviously angered. And presently, I think the adversary’s taking care of him.
RADDATZ: Yet– yet, Congressman–
BURCHETT: Yet I stress over several of those innocent names being out on that particular also too.
Yes, ma’am. Proceed.
RADDATZ: So– so, Congressman, you believe unsealing the grand court documents suffices for you currently?
BURCHETT: I believe it’s a begin. I do not believe we’re ever before going to obtain to the base of anything– every– all of it, ma’am. I indicate, check out the Kennedy murder. Do you in fact think Lee Harvey Oswald fired Head of state Kennedy from the front and the back, and this wonder drug shows up an hour later on in a– in– on a healthcare facility cart and– and in an emergency clinic. I– you understand, this community does not surrender its keys extremely simple.
And I– and I would certainly advise individuals also, currently we’re obtaining this things. What took place the last 4 years under the Biden management? Legislator Penis Durbin obstructed my legislator, Marsha Blackburn, that valiantly combated to obtain those documents out and just– and I might basically like it had not been anything. And the media backed him up on it. And currently suddenly the media assumes they have actually obtained something and it’s– it’s– I– it’s leveled in the direction of Trump. Yet I– you understand, my background with this problems returns a little means. I invested 16 years in the Tennessee General Setting up and I passed and tried to pass some– several of the most difficult regulations in the nation, several of the initial (FAINT) web criminal activities versus youngsters. I have actually advertised the execution, chemical castration of kid molesters and all those expenses were ruled unconstitutional.
RADDATZ: Congressman–
BURCHETT: Yes, ma’am.
RADDATZ: Congressman, I– I wish to return once again. So, you no more think or– or are requiring that all the Epstein submits be launched?
BURCHETT: No, ma’am. I desire them– I desire them launched. Yet my caution is this, allow’s make certain that we’re not launching the names of several of these that– that were after that youngsters, currently grownups, that were abused by this sleazebag, Epstein, and allow’s make certain we do not launch points that are– that have innocent names on them. That’s my– that’s been my worry about– with the initial– I believed they were dragging their feet. Initially, under the Biden management, they never ever did anything. And currently suddenly it’s ended up being a political problem. It’s not a political problem with me, ma’am. I have actually held the hands of individuals that have actually been molested, and they bring a life sentence. I simply wish to make certain that–
RADDATZ: You have actually– you have actually been extremely important of– I’m sorry. You– you have actually been extremely important of Pam Bondi throughout this. As the head of state claimed, he assumes she’s managed it well. So, where is the detach there? And– and do you believe she should surrender?
BURCHETT: I believe her interaction with us at an early stage was– was not as goo. I indicate that– the binder, for example, that she produced, I was extremely delighted regarding that. Yet after that I discovered the components of it. I believe it was her restricted expertise and her– and listening from the incorrect individuals, which you do a great deal of in Washington. There’s lots of individuals to offer you recommendations. Yet when it ends up bad, you reverse and they’re no place to be discovered. And I believe that’s what she performed in the start. I believe if she improves, I’ll have– I have a claiming, it’s not just how you begin, it’s just how you end up. If she ends up solid on this than I’m– after that I recommend it. I make certain the understanding contour is high and I– I believe she goofed initially. I truly do. As a lot of Americans do. Due to the fact that those– that– what those whites (ph)– that– that white note pad that those young individuals, those influencers go out with, I believed that was it. And after that when I began excavating right into it, it was things that I– and I’m– I’m– I’m a– I such as– I like my posts on Twitter yet– or X, yet that has to do with the restriction of my computer system expertise, yet also I might locate those points online that were currently around.
So, I believe they goofed initially, yet I believe they’re– they’re mosting likely to end up solid. Once again, I– I do not understand that–
RADDATZ: Well, Head Of State Trump–
BURCHETT: Proceed, ma’am.
RADDATZ: Thanks.
BURCHETT: Proceed. I’m sorry.
RADDATZ: Head of state Trump has actually begun declaring this is all a scam, that it’s being carried out by the Democrats. He states, several of his very own fans that he classified dumb and crazy Republicans, you are undoubtedly among those individuals that desires this launched. What’s your response to just how Head of state Trump has managed it?
BURCHETT: Well, yes, ma’am. I– it’s his approach. I– I– you understand, everyone inquiries Head of state Trump’s approach. They claimed the huge, stunning expense had not been going to obtain out (ph) on the 4th of July. Trump appears and states, I do not care when you place it out. I claimed, I do not care if you place it out on July 40th (ph), obtain the expense out. I simply desire it out.
And what took place, daggum, we passed it on the 4th of July. His cryptocurrency expense, my very own Legislator Haggerty had the Brilliant Act, component of that, and everyone claimed it was dead. It had not been going anywhere. And there I get on a– on a telephone call. I remain in– in a conference with– with the– with– with our audio speaker and our– and our whip, Tom Emmert, and 10 or 12 fellow traditionalists that had issues regarding it. And that– lo and behold, Head of state Trump calls, responds to every one of our inquiries. And the expense passes. And he authorized it on Friday.
So, you understand, I believe to ignore Donald J. Trump is– is– is– is a blunder in this– in this community. And I believe we’re finding out that.
And I– I– you understand, that’s his approach. I– was I a little checked off he claimed that things? Certain, I was. Yet I’m a huge young boy, ma’am. I remain in the– we’re playing in the major leagues today. And, you understand, I obtain slammed on a daily basis. I obtain fatality risks on a rather routine basis. So, my skin’s regarding that thick today. I believe I can take a little objection. Yet his approach is–
RADDATZ: It appears– it seems like you can.
BURCHETT: He’s– he’s bring out it. Yes, ma’am.
RADDATZ: OK, many thanks a lot for joining us today, Congressman.
BURCHETT: Thanks, ma’am.
