Summary
- House Republicans canceled Thursday votes and ended the session early to avoid Epstein files vote.
- Rep. Thomas Massie, backed by Democrats, pushed to release Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents.
- Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Massie, citing victim privacy and accusing Democrats of politicizing the issue.
- The DOJ plans to interview Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell amid pressure for transparency.
- Democrats condemn GOP move as an “epic cover-up” and demand public release of files.
Republicans are being accused by Democrats of a "epic cover-up" as Congress is essentially shut down early by Donald Trump's party to avoid a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein issue.
Republican leaders canceled Thursday's legislative work, meaning that members of the US Congress would likely begin their summer vacations one day earlier than planned.
It is the most recent development in a political battle that has enraged Democrats and divided Republicans.
With the support of Democrats, Congressman Thomas Massie is spearheading the Republican effort to compel a vote on a bill that would expose the documents associated with the case of pedophile Epstein.
Mr Massie's efforts have enraged Donald Trump and frustrated his party's leaders.
"Some people seem to enjoy trying to inflict political pain on their own teammates,"
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
"I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation, I really don't."
Both Mr. Trump's demand to terminate what he refers to as a "hoax" and constituent pressure to fulfill previous pledges to provide fresh information regarding the sex offender's case are the main reasons why many Republicans wish to delay a vote.
Democrats are now calling for greater transparency after previously dismissing inquiries about Epstein's death as conspiracy theories.
The Epstein controversy has occupied the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives this week, which decides which measures get to the floor for a vote.
The House has been unable to address other issues as a result. Therefore, Republicans closed the committee for the week by using their majority.
"We all understand that the America First agenda, the American people, are best served by putting an end to the Democrats' sideshows,"
Mr Johnson said.
"And that's what we're doing by not allowing the Rules Committee to continue with that nonsense this week."
He argued that rushing the release of files could expose victims' private information, and the public should wait for a court process to decide whether to release relevant grand jury transcripts.
"This is a cover-up of epic proportions,"
California Democrat Ted Lieu said.
"You've got the majority party literally having us leave Congress early … because they don't want to deal with releasing the Epstein files.
We should release the Epstein files. It's what Donald Trump campaigned on."
The congressional drama occurs as the White House claims to be attempting to arrange a meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's imprisoned co-conspirator.
The Justice Department plans to meet with the disgraced British socialite to find out what she knows about Epstein's alleged trafficking of underage girls, according to US Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche.
Long regarded as a close acquaintance of the financier and paedophile, Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. The paedophile passed away in prison in 2019.
Attorney-General Pam Bondi and the president himself have faced mounting pressure from Mr Trump's supporters to release additional materials related to Epstein.
On Tuesday, local time, Mr Blanche said he had contacted Maxwell's legal counsel at the attorney-general's direction.
"For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know?"
he wrote on X.
"I intend to meet with [Maxwell] soon. No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits."
The Justice Department's recent move to withhold a purported "client list" of Epstein's has drawn criticism from some members of Mr. Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) coalition.
According to a previous Justice Department letter, it had not found any evidence linking Epstein's conduct to any other charges.
Ms. Bondi had earlier this year stated that a "client list" was on her desk awaiting review; the decision seemed to contradict that statement.
But Mr Blanche said in his social media post that the Justice Department
"does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead."
A lawyer for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said on Tuesday in a statement:
"I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully."
"We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case."
In the past, Mr. Trump and other members of his administration pledged to make all Epstein case materials available.
However, in recent weeks, the US president has shifted his stance, denouncing supporters who persist in demanding the release of additional information and calling the story a "hoax" propagated by Democrats.
Additionally, he filed a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch for US$10 billion ($15 billion) after one of the billionaire media mogul's newspapers published an article claiming that Mr. Trump had sent Epstein a birthday note.
A 2003 album put together for Epstein's birthday contained a sexually suggestive letter with Mr. Trump's name on it, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.
What impact could the congressional shutdown have on federal investigations into Epstein?
House Speaker Mike Johnson halted House activity early, largely to prevent Democrats from forcing votes on amendments demanding the public release of Epstein files. This shutdown of legislative proceedings means no progress on bills or resolutions that could compel transparency or advance investigations.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of Epstein files, with ongoing legal and political battles delaying the release of evidence. Congress’s inaction and recess further postpone congressional oversight and pressure on the Justice Department and FBI to make files public.
GOP resistance to votes on Epstein-related measures, combined with the early recess and looming government funding issues, reduces checks on the executive branch. This environment hampers investigations and the possibility of new legislative tools to investigate or prosecute individuals connected with Epstein’s crimes.