The political storm surrounding the Epstein files has entered a new and unpredictable phase. What began as a slow drip of selectively released documents has now pushed the issue to the centre of Washington’s power struggle, revealing an unsettling truth about American politics: transparency is less a principle than a weapon, wielded when convenient and shunned when risky. The latest twist ~ President Donald Trump urging House Republicans to vote for the full release of all Epstein-related records ~ captures this contradiction in sharp relief. For months, Mr Trump dismissed calls for further disclosure as a partisan distraction.

Now, asserting that he has “nothing to hide,” he has reversed course and publicly demanded that his party back legislation compelling the release of all unclassified files held by government agencies. This shift is not merely tactical. It reflects pressure........

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