He—the president, their leader, the martyr who had endured scandals and prosecution and an assassin’s bullet on their behalf—had repeatedly told them it was time to move on, and that alone should suffice. Why, he groused, would the White House add fuel to the fire, would it play into the media’s narrative?

Some Republicans have called for the appointment of a special counsel, as MAGA allies have raged over the handling of the Epstein investigation.

Trump has been attacking his own supporters for continuing to press for release of files from the prosecution of the notorious wealthy pedophile who was found hanged in his NYC jail cell