WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers try to force the bill. Freeing files in connection with a sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein They expect “a large number of Republicans” to vote in favor of their bill this week, giving them a major House victory over Republican leadership and President Donald Trump who have downplayed their efforts for months.
The bill would require the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information related to the investigation into his death in federal prisons. Information about Epstein’s victims and ongoing federal investigations will be allowed to be redacted.
“There could be more than 100 votes,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., among the lawmakers debating the bill regarding Sunday news appearances. “When this bill comes to a vote, we hope to have a veto-proof majority.”
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) filed an expulsion petition in July to force a vote on the bill. This is a rarely successful measure that allows a majority of members to bypass House leadership and force a floor vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) criticized the discharge petition and sent members home. early It was during the August recess, when calls for a vote against Epstein mounted and Republican legislative policy was upended. Democrats are also vying for the following seats: Rep. Adelita Grijalvathe Arizona Democratic Party stalled to delay her becoming the 218th member to sign the petition and gain the necessary threshold for a forced vote. The moment marks the milestone as she becomes the 218th person to take the oath of office last week.
Mr Massey said Mr Johnson, Mr Trump and others who have criticized his efforts would “suffer a huge loss this week”.
“I’m not tired of winning yet, but we’re winning,” Massey said.
Republican leadership views
Mr. Johnson seems to expect the House of Representatives to firmly support the Epstein bill.
“We just get this over with and move on. We have nothing to hide,” he added, adding that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is releasing “much more information than their little ploy, the discharge petition.”
The vote comes at a time when new documents are raising new questions about Epstein and his associates, including the 2019 email: Epstein wrote To a journalist who said President Trump “knew these girls.” The White House accused Democrats of selectively leaking emails intended to smear the Republican president.
Johnson said President Trump “has nothing to hide about this.”
“They’re doing this to go after President Trump on the theory that he has something to do with it. He doesn’t,” Johnson said.
The relationship between Trump and Epstein is well established and the president’s name is on the record. His own Justice Department announced in February that As part of our efforts to satisfy the public’s interest in information from sex trafficking investigation.
Mr. Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Mr. Epstein, and the mere presence of someone’s name in the investigative file does not suggest wrongdoing. In addition to Trump, Epstein, who committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial in 2019, had many prominent acquaintances in political and celebrity circles.
Ms. Khanna expressed more modest expectations regarding the number of votes than Ms. Massey. Still, Khanna said he expects more than 40 Republicans to join the effort.
“I don’t even know how involved Trump was,” Khanna said. “There are many other parties who must also be held accountable.”
Khanna also requested a meeting with President Trump. those who have been abused. He said some people will be at the Capitol for a press conference on Tuesday.
Massie said a “no” vote by Republicans who fear losing Trump’s support because of the way they vote could hurt their political prospects in the long term.
“This voting record will outlast President Donald Trump’s term in office,” Massey said.
MAGA split
On the Republican side, three other Republicans signed the discharge petition along with Massey: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia), Rep. Nancy Mace (South Carolina), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (Colorado).
playing cards publicly He announced his break with Greene last week, saying he would support a challenger to her in 2026 “if the right person runs.”
Greene said her conflict with Trump “unfortunately all stems from the Epstein file.” She said there should be transparency in this country about the issue and that Trump’s criticism of himself was confusing because the women she spoke with said he had done nothing wrong.
“We have no idea what’s in those files. We can’t even speculate. But that’s the question on everyone’s mind: Why do we fight so hard?” Green said.
Even if the bill passes the House, there is no guarantee that Senate Republicans will support it. Massey said he hopes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., “does the right thing.”
“If we get a big vote in the House, that’s going to put pressure on us,” Massie said, adding that he believes “there could be a big wave of Republicans.”
Massey appeared on ABC’s “This Week,” Johnson appeared on “Fox News Sunday,” Khanna spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and Greene was interviewed on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
