Epstein Fallout: More Republicans call for Trump admin to release files

Congressional Dynamics & Political Strategy - The Republican leadership and the White House are perceived to be indecisive in addressing the Epstein issue, potentially prolonging the controversy [1] - Some House Republicans are breaking ranks, driven by voter concerns regarding the Epstein case and related cover-ups [1] - Speaker Mike Johnson's power base is heavily reliant on Donald Trump, creating a conflict between Trump's preferences and the desires of House members to address the Epstein issue [1] - The strategy of delaying action on the Epstein matter for six weeks is a gamble to see if the issue cools down or gets overshadowed by other events [1] Political Maneuvering & Distraction - There's a perception that efforts are being made to distract from the Epstein issue, including revisiting past investigations related to the Obama administration [1] - Democrats are seen as strategically leveraging the Epstein issue to put Republicans in a difficult position [1] - Democrats might potentially attach an Epstein-related measure to government funding to complicate matters for Republicans [1] Government Funding & Negotiation - Democrats may be less willing to negotiate on government funding, potentially leading to a tougher fight for Speaker Johnson [1] - Republicans may face challenges in getting any concessions from Donald Trump on previously passed bills [1]