By Matt Underwood Trump: “House Republicans should vote to release Epstein files” – Where do we even begin with this one? The whole situation feels like a carefully choreographed dance, and it’s hard to know who’s leading. The core of the matter is that Trump has publicly stated his desire for House Republicans to support the release of the Epstein files. But what’s the real story here? There seem to be several possible explanations, none of which fully clarify the situation.
Trump’s sudden pronouncement could be a calculated move. Is he privately leaning on Republicans to vote against the release, while publicly pretending to support it? This could be a way to control the narrative, maintain a degree of deniability, and keep his base happy. Another possibility is that Trump believes anything incriminating about him has already been removed or “redacted” from the files. He might be confident that any embarrassing details have been erased, making the release a non-issue. A third, and perhaps more cynical, explanation is that Trump knows he’s implicated, but he’s betting on his supporters’ unwavering loyalty. He might believe that any evidence against him will be dismissed as “fake news” or a “witch hunt,” and the base will ultimately stick with him.
The fact that Trump’s announcement comes now, after months of silence, raises suspicions. It’s almost as if he was pressured by a growing chorus of Republicans ready to release the files. If he were genuinely committed to transparency, why didn’t he direct the DOJ to release the files himself? He could have done it immediately. This shift in stance seems to indicate that the situation is far more nuanced and that damage control is underway.
The most likely scenario appears to be a multi-pronged approach to obfuscation. Trump’s allies are probably preparing to undermine the files even as they are released. We are likely to see the defense come from a few different angles. The first is that the DOJ will probably state there’s an active investigation and the release of the files would somehow compromise it. This allows for a delay, allowing time to assess the damage and prepare counter-arguments. Then, the base will be fed the “hoax” narrative. But, the real question is how will the files be handled. It is a reasonable assumption that the files have been “scrubbed,” and the worst of the incriminating evidence has been removed. However, even if that’s the case, we have to recognize that the situation is probably more complex.
One has to consider the possibility of leaks. There are likely other parties in possession of the original unredacted files, including courts and private individuals. These people may well have the power and incentive to release the unredacted documents.
The timing of Trump’s statement is crucial. It’s hard to dismiss the idea that he’s trying to stay ahead of the curve, perhaps anticipating a vote on the matter that could embarrass him. By publicly supporting the release, he gets to shape the perception. This has the dual effect of appeasing his base, who might interpret this as a sign of boldness and transparency, while simultaneously allowing him to avoid the appearance of losing any ground in his current position.
The release of the Epstein files is not merely a House decision. The Senate also has to agree. So even if the House votes to release them, the files will not be released until the Senate agrees, and Trump signs the bill. Therefore, it is probably a long game of maneuver and manipulation. This is probably a clever tactic to prevent the fallout. He can either let the Senate kill the release, or veto it if it reaches his desk.
Many have noticed a parallel between Trump’s current behavior and how he responded to the Biden administration’s failure to release all the files. In that case, Trump accused Biden of hiding something by not releasing them. Now, he’s taking a similar approach, possibly because he knows he would look weak if he did not release them. By publicly supporting the release, he gets to look strong and in charge.
The question of whether the files have been sanitized is central. The possibility that the FBI has already gone through the files and redacted any mention of Trump or his allies is significant. This could explain his confidence in supporting their release. He knows that the worst of the incriminating evidence might not be there. This could also be a strategy to protect House members, to prevent them from losing their next elections if they do not release the files. It is hard to know whether he cares about them.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Trump can’t veto the release without looking like he has something to hide. It places him in a precarious position, but it may have been forced. His options are limited. The DOJ will probably try to delay the process. He may use some procedural pretext, or simply focus on other topics. It is a sign of desperation, if anything.
The most plausible theory is that Trump knows the files have been altered, is confident of enough support in the Senate to block the release, or has other sources of information or influence over the situation. It all boils down to one simple question: What does Trump know, and when did he know it? The public support is likely another attempt to manipulate the situation, control the narrative, and protect his reputation. The truth remains buried, yet to be uncovered.