Absolutely stunning’: CNN reporter floored as GOP braces for ‘mass defections’ from Donald Trump

Republican lawmakers are starting to distance themselves from President Donald Trump, and many in the GOP are worried that a lot of their members may soon break away because of the growing pressure to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a Thursday report from CNN.

CNN correspondent Manu Raju said that people inside the party are preparing for a major split from the White House. A vote is expected early next week on a petition that would force the Justice Department to make the Epstein files public.

Kristen Holmes, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, said she spoke with several Trump allies who are confused and frustrated by how the White House is handling the situation. They don’t understand why the administration is releasing information slowly and in small pieces, or why it seems unsure about whether to fully support making the documents public. She explained that this uncertainty is surprising because the administration usually expects strong loyalty, not hesitation.

Holmes also noted that Republican lawmakers pushing back against the White House in such large numbers is extremely rare. It shows how unusual and serious this situation has become.

Meanwhile, the White House has tried to play down the importance of the newly released emails, dismissing them as a distraction. This comes as the government reopened on Wednesday after the longest shutdown in American history.

On Thursday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more emails. In total, around 20,000 documents were released from the Republican-led panel, adding even more pressure and public interest to the ongoing situation.