By Matt Underwood Trump and Johnson likely doomed in effort to stop Epstein files vote. It’s a sentiment echoing through the digital airwaves, and it’s hard not to feel the weight of it. The release of the Epstein files, the names, the details – it’s all a pressure cooker, isn’t it? The whispers are everywhere; the “I told you so’s” ready to be unleashed. The thought that this might actually be it, that this could be the thing to finally shift the tectonic plates of political loyalty, is both exhilarating and exhausting.
They can’t seem to get their stories straight, those defending Trump. It’s a predictable cycle. First, the denial: “It doesn’t exist.” Then, the obfuscation: “He’s an informant.” Next, the dismissals: “There’s no letter,” “It’s not his signature.” Followed by the blame game, “It was created by Obama.” It’s a familiar pattern. The lies are thin and transparent, but it doesn’t matter. The cult of personality is resilient. They seem to be buying time.
The crucial question is whether enough Republicans will see this as an opportunity to distance themselves. It’s a risky gamble, of course. The fear of the MAGA base is real, but with Trump not running again, the pressure might be lessened. Some, perhaps even the likes of a Vance or a Rubio, might be privately relieved if Trump is brought down by this. They may be eager to finally jettison Trump. After all, a cult stripped of its leader is a far less fearsome entity.
The release of the DoJ files, unredacted, is what everyone is clamoring for. The birthday letter is being pushed hard. The hope is that enough undeniable evidence of wrongdoing emerges to finally break through the wall of denial. The fear, of course, is that the files will be redacted, sanitized, or even worse, manipulated. The thought that the powers that be could potentially manufacture a false narrative, placing the blame on their political enemies, is a chilling prospect.
Trump’s core supporters, the MAGA faithful, are already firmly entrenched. They have their defenses up, ready to dismiss anything that implicates their hero. They are in the, “pedophile lover” camp. They will find ways to justify it, to explain it away. This will be the rallying cry of the defense.
The cycle is always the same with Trump. The promises of accountability, the shock and outrage of the critics. Then, the slow fade, the disappointment. The files won’t see the light of day or at least the truly unabridged version.
The media coverage? The concern is that the mainstream media, already plagued by its own failings, may not have the gumption to follow up with the rigorous investigation needed. The cynicism is understandable, it’s been years and years of hollow promises.
So, are they doomed? That’s the million-dollar question. Doomed does not mean are doomed. They are not doomed until there are enough signatures on the discharge petition to bring it to a vote. Until that happens, there is no vote. Right now, that path seems uncertain. The fear of the base, the ingrained loyalty, the reluctance to act, all make it difficult to imagine a scenario where they are truly held accountable.
In the end, it comes down to this: Do enough Republican legislators see an opportunity to break free from the Trump cult? Do they see a chance to regain some measure of integrity, some semblance of independence? Or will the fear of the base, the loyalty to a tarnished figure, continue to hold sway? It’s a waiting game, and the clock is ticking. But the odds are not in their favor.