Speaker Johnson adjourns the House to prevent Epstein files vote

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) just sent members of the U.S. House of Representatives home early for the August recess. 

It would appear that he did so, according to the Washington Examiner, in order to prevent a vote on a petition relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

It appears, though, that the vote will still take place after the recess is over and Congress resumes. In other words, Johnson only bought some time.

Q: “Should all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein be released and made public?”

Johnson: “Yes, I agree with President Trump, with the DOJ, with the FBI. You need all credible evidence out there. That word ‘credible’ is important.” pic.twitter.com/fAmVnugZpl

— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) July 27, 2025

Background

There is a bipartisan effort in Congress to force the Trump administration to release the infamous Epstein files. Among the leaders of this effort is U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).

During an interview on ABC over the weekend, Massie said:

Well, I think we should get a lot more than just the book. Let’s get the financial records of the estate, follow the money, as they say up here. We should look at the plea-bargain, open that up, see what was the deal, what was the deal that was cut. I think there’s a lot more than just that letter. That letter is also sort of representative of something that’s embarrassing but not illegal, another reason why these files may be sealed and stay sealed, but we’re going to force a vote on this when we get back from the August recess. Ro Khanna and I are using a procedure called a discharge petition whereby if we get 218 votes, and we’re well on our way to that, 218 signatures, then we can force the vote.

Massie expressed optimism about getting the required signatures.

He said:

If every Democrat signs this, I have 12 Republican co-sponsors and I only need six to sign it. I think the pressure will build over August recess. I don’t think it will dissipate like the speaker hopes that it will. If merely just half the people who have co-sponsored this legislation follow through and sign it, then it’s going to come to the floor for a vote.

“Reckless”

This is how Johnson characterized the effort being led by Massie and Khanna.

Johnson said:

House Republicans insist upon the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein in any way. But we are also insisting upon the protection of innocent victims. And our concern is that the Massie and Khanna discharge petition is reckless in the way that it is drafted and presented. It does not adequately include those protections.

Johnson also defended his decision to send Congress members home early.

He said:

So what we did do this week is end the chaos in the rules committee because the Democrats are trying to use this in a shameless manner for political purposes, quite obviously. They hijacked the rules committee. And they tried to turn it into an Epstein hearing. That’s not what the rules committee is about.

“So that’s why the floor vote ended on Wednesday instead of Thursday,” Johnson added.

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