“Republicans in the House should vote to release the Epstein documents because we have nothing to hide.” With this message, share it on Truth Social, Donald Trump has taken a major U-turn on one of the thorniest issues of his administrationafter months of trying to block a vote on the disclosure of Justice Department files on the late financier and convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
The turning point comes as dozens of Republicans appear intent on defying the tycoon’s instructions, and are poised to vote alongside Democrats on a bipartisan measure expected in the chamber later today.
Dissatisfaction among Republicans
For weeks the White House and spokesman Mike Johnson have tried to block the proposal – led by deputies Thomas Massie (Gop) and Ro Khanna, Democrat – to prevent it from reaching a final vote. But the efforts were not enough to stem growing discontent among republicans, with nearly a hundred MPs now appearing inclined to support publication of the document. Pressure exerted by Trump, who in recent days even summoned some lawmakers to the Situation Room to convince them to change their stance, has proven ineffective.
The rift within the Republican Party widened after the release of thousands of emails linked to Epstein, in which the financier claimed that Trump “knew about the girls.” While there is no evidence implicating the president, according to Politico, the issue has become “politically toxic” and has damaged relations with some of his loyalists, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been the target of his attacks on social media for days. Johnson, who has supported the need for “maximum transparency” while insisting he would not vote for the measure, acknowledged there would be “many voices” in favor of the measure in the House.
The fear among the majority is that strong Republican support could increase pressure on the Senate, forcing the upper chamber to consider the bill and paving the way for a possible presidential veto, which would further fuel controversy and embarrass the administration. Trump’s changes – perhaps inevitable after his latest defections – are now aimed at reuniting the party, from its staunchest conservatives to its moderates. Everyone’s goal, Massie concludes, is to move forward: “If you think about the right thing to do, it’s pretty clear: You choose it.”
