WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The White House quietly lobbied senators to slow-walk a vote to force the release of investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein even as President Donald Trump publicly insisted his administration had nothing to hide and urged Congress to act, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The White House called The View hosts "Trump-deranged wackos" over their commentary on the Epstein files in an exclusive statement to Entertainment Weekly. On the We

Jeffrey Epstein said in 2018 he could "take down" Donald Trump, in an exchange released along with thousands of other files.

In a statement to EW, the White House responded to remarks from "The View" cohosts Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin.

In the alleged recording, Trump could purportedly be heard saying, "Just don't let 'em get out. If I go down, I will bring all of you down with me."

As President Donald Trump signed the bill for his Justice Department to release the Epstein files, CNN commentator Brad Todd warns the White House and the Republican Party that delaying the release any longer will hurt them politically.

The House voted on Tuesday against censuring and condemning Rep. Stacey Plaskett over her texting with Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing in 2019.

The White House fired back after correspondence from Jeffrey Epstein about President Donald Trump was released by House Democrats on Wednesday