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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Sam Levine

Trump’s reversal with call to release Epstein files reveals inability to control Maga allies

an older man in suit speaks with his hands outstretched near an airplane as boom microphones are held in front of him
Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach international airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump’s call for Republicans to back the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, an abrupt reversal, is a rare instance of the president being unable to tame his Maga base and being instead forced to accede to it.

Many Republicans are expected to support a vote in the US House this week to force the justice department to release the files. Once the measure passes, it would still need approval in the US Senate, where 13 Republican senators would need to join with all 47 Democrats to approve it.

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