Many Americans woke up this morning to some strange news: Late last night President Trump published on social media that he was urging House Republicans to vote in FAVOR of releasing the Epstein files in a vote scheduled for this Tuesday. This is a complete reversal of Trump’s position for the last few months in which he fought tooth and nail against releasing the files. So, what happened?
During the lead up to last year’s presidential election, Candidate Trump promised that, if elected, he would release the Epstein files. He had alleged that the Biden “good ole boys’ club” was corruptly blocking release of the files to protect rich, influential Democratic leaders and donors from prosecution in this infamous sex trafficking case. His MAGA base enthusiastically supported Trump in this quest to drain the swamp.
Once he occupied the White House, Trump changed his tune. There was nothing more to see here. His Attorney General, “Puppet” Pam Bondi, claimed the Epstein case was closed. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The MAGA folk rose up and demanded the files be released. Four brave GOP congressional representatives (Kentuckian Thomas Massie, former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene, and two others) signed on to a discharge resolution that required the House to vote on a bill releasing the files. Trump called it a “Democratic hoax” and branded Marjorie Taylor Greene a traitor. He tried to bully her by mockingly changed her name “Greene” to “Brown” which is the color green plants become when they “rot”. She stood her ground and appeared yesterday on many Sunday morning talk shows (like CNN) to defend her case. Many GOP Representatives grew a backbone. Massie estimated that over a hundred Republicans would defy Trump and vote for the resolution. Trump ordered his Attorney General to re-open the investigation, targeting Bill Clinton and other famous Democrats. Bondi obediently did so, although this contradicted her previous claim that the case was closed and there was no client list of pedophiles. Faced with a rebellion from his MAGA base, last night Trump did the unthinkable. He backed down and published on social media that he now wanted the GOP to vote in FAVOR of the bill on Tuesday! A complete reversal! Why did he back down?
On other issues (like tariffs on China and standing up to Putin), Trump has backed down so often that he has earned the nickname “Taco” (Trump Always Chickens Out). These are usually international issues, and up until now, Trump has deflected criticism by asking more time for his tariffs or diplomacy to take effect. But, releasing the Epstein files is different. The MAGA base is Trump’s heart and soul. To be defied by this base is a fate worse than death. To be defied by a previous ally like Ms. Greene means she must be banished as a traitor (in this sense, Trump shows tendencies of a religious cult leader). Trump could not permit his MAGA Representatives vote against him in a House vote. By his shocking announcement last night, MAGA will vote WITH Trump because the President has changed his position. This does not mean he wants the files to be released. He still has three ways to keep the Epstein files locked up: (1) Senator Thune does not have to bring the resolution to the Senate floor even it passes in the House; (2) Given that the Epstein case is open again, legally the files cannot be made public, at least temporarily; (3) Trump could veto the bill. In these three instances, a sizable majority of MAGA will realize that Trump is now a lame duck. His power to use the “bully pulpit” will largely have evaporated. Ms. Greene and Mr. Massie have become more powerful brokers than Trump. So, Representatives in the House, vote your conscience and get the pedophiles and sex traffickers off our streets.
Lindy Scott 