Karma. SyntaxError: Expected an identifier but found ... instead - my version - node.js

Question

I've read Karma. SyntaxError: Expected an identifier but found ... instead, and my issue seems the same. But please humor me, it's weirder in my case.
I have 2 Jenkins jobs that runs grunt karma on the same directory, but on 2 different branches, and the only diffs between the two branches is a *.js file that is in a different directory that I'm running grunt karma on. IOW, for all practical purposes on the directory I'm testing, the 2 branches are identical.
On my sandbox job that checks out my master branch, I can issue grunt karma and get
$ grunt karma
Running "karma:unit" (karma) task
08 01 2023 21:12:16.404:INFO [karma]: Karma v1.7.1 server started at http://0.0.0.0:9876/
08 01 2023 21:12:16.406:INFO [launcher]: Launching browser PhantomJS with unlimited concurrency
08 01 2023 21:12:16.412:INFO [launcher]: Starting browser PhantomJS
08 01 2023 21:12:16.713:INFO [PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0)]: Connected on socket Ceegz0CmpJmQjl0uAAAA with id 84751163
PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0): Executed 51 of 51 SUCCESS (0.191 secs / 0.2 secs)
Done, without errors.
But on a job that runs grunt karma on a release/* branch I get
$ grunt karma
Running "karma:unit" (karma) task
08 01 2023 21:34:55.619:INFO [karma]: Karma v1.7.1 server started at http://0.0.0.0:9876/
08 01 2023 21:34:55.621:INFO [launcher]: Launching browser PhantomJS with unlimited concurrency
08 01 2023 21:34:55.625:INFO [launcher]: Starting browser PhantomJS
08 01 2023 21:34:55.937:INFO [PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0)]: Connected on socket PeYT79bHxmpbsAj2AAAA with id 65885438
PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0) ERROR
SyntaxError: Expected an identifier but found 'jasmineRequire' instead
at src/desktop/node_modules/jasmine-core/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js:25
PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0) ERROR
ReferenceError: Can't find variable: jasmineRequire
at src/desktop/node_modules/karma-jasmine/lib/boot.js:14
PhantomJS 2.1.1 (Linux 0.0.0) ERROR
ReferenceError: Can't find variable: jasmine
at src/desktop/node_modules/karma-jasmine/lib/adapter.js:405
Warning: Task "karma:unit" failed. Use --force to continue.
On BOTH branches, this is the line in above file
var getJasmineRequireObj = (function(jasmineGlobal) {
let jasmineRequire; // This is the offending line
Here's my karma.conf.js file, also the same on BOTH branches
// karma.conf.js
module.exports = function(config) {
config.set({
frameworks: ['jasmine'],
singleRun: true,
browsers: ['PhantomJS'],
browserConsoleLogOptions: {
terminal: true,
level: ""
},
files: [
'src/common/lib/jquery/jquery-1.9.0.js',
'src/common/lib/jquery/jquery.cookie.js',
'src/common/lib/angular/1.8.2/angular.min.js',
'src/common/lib/angular/1.8.2/*.js',
'src/common/lib/angular-scrollable-table/angular-scrollable-table.js',
'src/desktop/lib/bootstrap/bootstrap.js',
'src/desktop/lib/bootstrap/angular-strap.js',
'src/desktop/node_modules/angular-mocks/angular-mocks.js',
'src/common/lib/hicharts/highcharts.js',
'src/common/lib/localization/sprintf.js',
'src/common/lib/localization/localization.js',
'src/common/js/directives/ZiftDirectives.js',
'src/common/js/modules/*.js',
'src/common/js/controllers/agencyorder/*.js',
'src/common/js/controllers/CampaignActivateController.js',
'src/common/js/services/agencyorder/agencyOrderAssetOrderService.js',
'src/common/js/services/agencyorder/quoteAgencySelectService.js',
'src/common/js/constants.js',
'src/common/js/services.js',
'src/common/js/downloads/*.js',
'src/common/js/services/export/ExportService.js',
'src/common/js/services/leads/*.js',
'test/**/*.js'
]
});
I delete the workspace when I run the jobs. What is my issue? TIA!