President Donald Trump faces a potentially damaging congressional vote over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This situation arises after attempts to persuade two female members of Congress, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert and Democratic Representative Nancy Mace, to withdraw their support for a discharge petition appear to have failed. The petition aims to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
Boebert reportedly refused to withdraw her signature even after being invited to the White House by Trump, who allegedly enlisted other officials in an effort to change her mind. The White House's "vague threats" to Boebert were reportedly counterproductive, leading her to believe there was a conspiracy to conceal the files' contents. This situation is politically sensitive for Trump, as it could alienate segments of his base, especially after Democrats on the House oversight committee released emails suggesting Trump may have known more about Epstein's activities than he previously admitted. One email indicated that Trump, a former friend of Epstein, "knew about the girls."
