How will GOP react to release of Epstein files?

For months, President Donald Trump denounced calls for the release of the Epstein files as a Democratic hoax. His aides warned Republicans that backing a release would be seen as a “hostile act.” He even had Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel meet with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) in the Situation Room to persuade her to change her stance on releasing the files.

When none of that seemingly worked, President Trump called on House Republicans to vote and back a bill that would order his Justice Department to release all of its investigative files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

What does this mean for the GOP, and what does it signal about support for President Trump? And what’s the nature of what’s driving the story in the media?

Chuck Coughlin, CEO and President of HighGround, Inc., joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss these questions after an almost unanimous vote from the U.S. House of Representatives to release the Epstein files.

Coughlin said Trump’s sudden reversal reflects political pragmatism more than a shift in principle. With prominent conservative figures like Rep. Andy Biggs and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene already preparing to support the bill, Trump found himself in front of a political train he could no longer slow.

“Duck. When they’re throwing it, get out of the way,” Coughlin said, adding that the vote was a foregone conclusion and Trump’s best option was to stop fighting it.

He noted the irony of Trump becoming re-entangled in a storyline he had tried to minimize for years.

“You can check out, but you can never leave,” Coughlin said, quoting Hotel California.

The political challenge now, he argued, is whether Attorney General Pam Bondi will fully release the files or cite investigative concerns that could lead to partial disclosure. Either scenario is likely to fuel speculation online, something Coughlin says is inevitable in today’s fragmented media landscape.

“What’s driving this isn’t just concern about Epstein,” he said. “It’s the dysfunctional nature of our media environment. Narratives take off on X, YouTube, podcasts, anyone can fuel them without proving anything.”

The larger political question, Coughlin said, is whether this episode fractures Trump’s base. With roughly 40% of Republican voters identifying with the MAGA movement, he believes any signs of internal division should be watched closely heading into 2026.

If the release of the files sparks distrust or competing narratives among Trump’s staunchest supporters, it could signal the first real weakening of his grip on the GOP.

Whether the files fade quickly or become a lasting point of division, Coughlin said the political stakes are clear: “This is one of those moments where we see if the Trump brand can bring everyone back together, or if the cracks start to widen.”