Mike Johnson Says House Will Not Hold a Vote on Epstein Files Ahead of Recess

WASHINGTON — On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not allow votes on any measures related to the Jeffrey Epstein case before a weekslong recess. The decision comes despite intense pressure from some members of his own party to take a public stance on the issue.

Johnson has been under pressure from some of Trump’s most loyal supporters in Congress to facilitate a vote, showing their support for transparency regarding the Epstein matter, as the issue continues to draw scrutiny from the MAGA base, despite Trump's insistence that his supporters, both in Congress and among voters, drop the matter.

CNN reported on Monday that the Speaker told the outlet that the full House would not vote on a non-binding resolution calling for the release of additional Epstein files put forth by members of his own party before the House's August recess, which is scheduled to begin at the end of the week.

“My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then we’ll look at that, but I don’t think we’re at that point right now, because we agree with the president,” Johnson told CNN.

A bipartisan group of House members, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), is seeking to force a vote on a separate bill that calls for the release of the Epstein files. Massie will need a majority of House members to sign a discharge petition to force a floor vote.

Ten House Republicans have already signed onto Massie’s measure. Still, it wouldn’t be considered by the full House until after Labor Day at the earliest if he is successful in assembling a majority of support.

On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that his department plans to meet with convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to discuss anyone else "who has committed crimes against victims." Maxwell is currently serving her sentence in a federal prison in Tallahassee.

The House was poised to work through the week, but Johnson changed the schedule to send Congress home a day early.

"We are done being lectured about transparency," said Johnson at a press conference Tuesday. He added that he would not allow Democrats to "continue with their nonsense this week."