Full Breakdown
Texas Candidate Flood Defends Epstein Transparency Act Amid Audience Criticism
5/28/2026, 12:49:30 AM
Town Hall Confrontation Over Epstein Files
At a public meeting in Fremont, Texas, candidate Flood was confronted by resident Kim Stabbe about the status of the Epstein Transparency Act, a law Flood signed alongside the Senate and former President Trump. Stabbe cited “a million Epstein files have still not been released” and noted that “millions of files … still have not been released.” Flood replied that the law required the files’ release and asked whether the files would have been disclosed under President Joe Biden’s administration if they implicated former President Trump.
Flood’s Official Position
Flood asserted that the legislation had been enacted and that agencies were responsible for publishing the documents. He framed the issue as politically charged, suggesting partisan bias might impede disclosure. Flood also expressed a hawkish stance on foreign policy, stating that “everything costs too much” while supporting ongoing military engagements, and reiterated opposition to Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. He referenced a $1.8 billion slush fund intended to direct taxpayer dollars to supporters of former President Trump.
Audience Criticism
Stabbe accused Flood of protecting “pedophiles” and the Department of Justice, invoking his congressional oath to uphold the law. The questioning provoked audible boos and jeers, indicating strong dissent among the audience regarding Flood’s perceived defense of former President Trump and the DOJ.
Implications, Data, and Gaps
The exchange highlights tension between the act’s transparency goal and the continued absence of released files. Stabbe’s figures—“a million” and “millions” of unreleased documents—contrast with Flood’s claim that the law mandates release, exposing a gap between statutory language and implementation. The $1.8 billion fund underscores the political stakes tied to the act. Public confidence in the law’s enforcement may be affected by these discrepancies and by Flood’s broader foreign-policy positions on defense spending and nuclear proliferation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know you’re a lawyer. You’ve taken an oath as a congressman to support the laws of this land. A million Epstein files have still not been released, and … the Epstein Transparency Act you signed, the Senate signed, Trump signed, yet we still have millions of files that still have not been released,” — Kim Stabbe, Fremont resident
- “We have passed a law to release the Epstein files,” — Flood, Candidate
- “Do you think that under President Joe Biden’s four years in the White House, if President Trump was in the Epstein files, it would have been released?” — Flood, Candidate
- “We know that Trump is in them tons of times; why do you continue to protect the pedophiles and Trump’s DOJ as they continue to break the law?” — Kim Stabbe, Fremont resident
- “I also don’t want Iran with a nuclear weapon.” — Flood, Candidate
