The reversal was both dramatic and difficult to fully accept. It reflected a rare sense of nervousness in the White House. After campaigning to persuade Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives to block a request for the full publication of documents in the Epstein affair, Donald Trump abruptly changed course on Sunday, November 16.

Trapped for months by the scandal, which resurfaced six years after the prison death of the high-profile financier and sexual predator, the president accused the Democrats of orchestrating a smear campaign. Yet victims of Jeffrey Epstein continue to demand the whole truth be revealed, without their testimonies being called into question. They are scheduled to appear before the press again on Tuesday, supported by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna (California) and Republican Representatives Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia).

Massie and Taylor Greene have become prime targets for Trump, who regularly directs lengthy, vitriolic messages at them on his Truth Social network. But the US president had to acknowledge the political reality of the moment. Republican lawmakers were far more numerous than expected in supporting the Democratic initiative to release the documents.

You have 77.86% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.