MASSIE: “Some folks are eager to sweep the Epstein files under the rug, but we will force the vote on my legislation to release the Epstein files in September if the required 7 legislative days don’t elapse before the Speaker recesses Congress for August break.”
Source: Thomas Massie (X) @RepThomMassie
WHY DID MASSIE SAY THIS?
According to Politico, many GOP lawmakers fear being cornered by an expected “discharge petition” that would force a House vote on publicizing Epstein-related records. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) launched the effort Tuesday, making it available for signatures and a possible floor vote as soon as next week.
Republicans want to leave town early for several reasons, but senior House Republicans acknowledge the calls for transparency around the Epstein case is becoming a bigger problem for the party.
The hope, according to more than a dozen GOP members and aides, has been that Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise decide to cancel next week’s scheduled House session and instead send members home for an extended summer recess once voting concludes Thursday or Friday.
Massie said in an interview he was confident the Epstein issue would remain ripe through the summer. He recalled how conservative hard-liners moved a decade ago to remove former Speaker John Boehner right before the August recess — and then Boehner resigned after members came back in September.
“They probably want to let the steam out, but this will build momentum over August,” Massie said. “They can’t sweep it under the rug.”