In a striking turn of events, President Donald Trump has signaled a dramatic shift regarding the contentious issue of releasing Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the infamous financier and convicted sex offender. This development surfaced amidst a brewing rebellion within the ranks of the House GOP, where up to 100 Republicans were prepared to defy Trump's stance.

Trump expressed his new position via a late Sunday post on Truth Social, urging House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files, stating, "because we have nothing to hide." He emphasized his focus on the GOP regaining its core objectives, declaring, "I DON’T CARE! All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT."

The call for transparency came surprisingly as Trump has been resisting this move for months. His sudden capitulation appears to be a tactical retreat, influenced by the significant number of GOP members ready to cross party lines in the vote scheduled for Tuesday. Notably, even close confidants of GOP leadership were contemplating breaking away from Trump's directives.

House Rules Chair Virginia Foxx, a key figure in Speaker Mike Johnson’s circle, echoed the sentiment for openness, stating, “I’m a big full disclosure person. I have nothing to hide, and I assume nobody else does, either.” However, she remained non-committal on her voting decision.

Trump’s insistence on keeping the Epstein files under wraps had been causing unease among Hill Republicans, as per insiders granted anonymity. Despite the lack of evidence tying Trump directly to any misconduct in the Epstein saga, the president has repeatedly mentioned a past fallout with Epstein.

Adding to the complexity, Trump's recent actions, including a tense episode involving Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) in the White House Situation Room and his withdrawal of support for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), have spotlighted the internal GOP strife. Greene disclosed to CNN that the tension with Trump was primarily due to the Epstein documents, admitting her ignorance of their contents but questioning the fierce opposition to their release.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a notable proponent of the disclosure effort, commented on the broader implications, suggesting that the vote reflects a GOP looking beyond Trump's era, considering the long-term impacts on their political careers.

As the House gears up for the vote, Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, are poised to intensify efforts to compel Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the matter to the Senate floor. They are also exploring leveraging upcoming appropriations bills as a means to force a vote on the Epstein files.

Additional Items on the Capitol Agenda:

This week, House GOP committee leaders are set to initiate discussions on the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies, a pivotal issue likely to dominate Tuesday’s conference meeting. Furthermore, the House is slated to fast-track a vote on Wednesday to repeal a controversial provision enabling senators to sue over phone records, a measure secured by Thune in a recent government reopening deal.