Republican Speaker Mike Johnson Tuesday ordered the Home of Representatives to close down early for a summer time recess to keep away from a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein information.
With legislative enterprise grinding to a close to standstill over the Epstein drama, Johnson mentioned he wouldn’t enable votes on proposals calling on the White Home to launch all of the information till after Labor Day on the earliest to offer President Trump “space” to launch a few of the data.
“We’re done being lectured on transparency (and) endless efforts to politicize the Epstein investigation,” mentioned Johnson. “We’re not going to play political games with this.”
Johnson insisted he and Trump each need to launch as a lot data as attainable in regards to the infamous sex-trafficking ring, however referred to as the push in Congress a political distraction.
“There’s no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they’re already doing,” Johnson mentioned.
Johnson dismissed the trouble from right-wing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and some allies to drive a flooring vote on the Epstein information: “Bless his heart.”
Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump. (Getty Photos)
A number of conservative Republicans again the measure though it stays to be seen if they’ll stand as much as sure strain from Johnson and the White Home to again down. Democrats are prone to overwhelmingly assist the measure.
The GOP-led Oversight Committee, in the meantime, voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell to testify in regards to the Epstein intercourse ring though it was unclear if or when that may occur.
The transfer got here the identical day the Trump Justice Division mentioned it needs to speak to Maxwell, who’s serving a 20-year sentence for serving to Epstein commit intercourse crimes.
It’s not clear if Trump’s effort to show the web page on the Epstein scandal will reach quieting anger from his personal MAGA base.
Rep. Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina and a member of the Guidelines panel, criticized his leaders for “stalling” on the matter.
“The American people deserve action, not excuses,” he tweeted.
