‘Release the information’: Senator Justice speaks on Epstein files, vaccine exemptions

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Amid national debates surrounding mandatory vaccinations and the release of the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) spoke with 12 News on Thursday, giving his thoughts on the topics.

In the midst of pressure and division from Congress on the release of the Epstein files, Justice expressed exhaustion with the debate while expressing a need for transparency.

“The Epstein situation needs to die and go away. The people that are victims, I have all the compassion in the world for and that’s why I say, ‘release the information,'” Justice said. “But, I think President Trump is probably doing a balancing act on those files as best can be done.”

The tensions on the subject come after victims of Epstein and lawmakers alike have demanded transparency from President Trump.

Justice also spoke on vaccine exemptions in West Virginia, a topic that was sparked locally by an ongoing feud regarding religious exemptions in schools between the West Virginia Department of Education and Gov. Patrick Morrisey. Nationally, the issue took off this week as Florida announced plans to become the first state to ban vaccine mandates, and many are wondering if West Virginia is next.

After emphasizing his commitment to West Virginians during the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice emphasized the importance of trusting professionals in this situation.

“I think, really and truly, who should guide us in what to do is the medical community. The doctors. The people that are absolutely educated in this community in every way,” Justice said. “We really need to do something. We do. We do. But we don’t need to just be branching out on our own and ignore the medical community, either. For decades and decades and decades, the CDC did unbelievably good work.”

West Virginia currently requires K-12 students to have certain vaccines before starting school, but given the fight by Gov. Morrisey to enforce his executive order on the matter, that could change in the future.