House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing escalating bipartisan criticism after abruptly adjourning the House of Representatives for its August recess, effectively halting momentum for a vote on legislation that would compel the release of sealed government files related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking network.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, dismissed the urgency of the vote on Tuesday, stating there was no need to "push an administration to do something they're already doing." He added, "There's no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they're already doing," referencing the Biden administration's stated intention to review and release relevant information.
The move drew swift condemnation from both parties and fractured Johnson's already tenuous hold over the House GOP conference. "@SpeakerJohnson, why are you running cover for an underage sex trafficking ring and pretending this is a partisan issue? MAGA voted for this," Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.) posted on X. Former Rep. Justin Amash (R., Mich.) added, "Fire Mike Johnson."
Massie, alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.), introduced bipartisan legislation to compel the Justice Department to disclose Epstein-related records. "It's about transparency in government. It's about whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, protecting men? Or are you on the side of young girls and America's children?" Khanna said on the House floor.
Johnson's decision comes as rank-and-file Republicans, spurred by right-wing activists and pro-Trump constituencies, push for accountability in the case of Epstein, the disgraced financier who died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. GOP leaders had initially signaled openness to a vote, but procedural maneuvering on the House Rules Committee-controlled by Johnson allies-delayed debate on the resolution.
Tensions escalated Monday night when Republicans on the Rules Committee recessed proceedings to avoid Democratic amendments seeking the release of Epstein documents. Shortly thereafter, Johnson ended all legislative activity, shelving other bills-including those targeting illegal immigration penalties and Biden-era regulatory rollbacks-until September.
Johnson has insisted he supports transparency, but qualified his position. "We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that - absolutely - and we're resolved to do it," he told The Hill. "But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread."
The Justice Department has maintained that no "Epstein client list" exists and that no further charges will be brought. However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently requested the unsealing of grand jury transcripts from the indictments against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate currently serving a 20-year sentence.
The political consequences may extend beyond Capitol Hill. "This will be an issue that does follow Republicans through the midterms," Massie told reporters. "Did you support transparency and justice, or did you come up here, get elected and fall into the swamp?"
Democrats, seizing on the GOP discord, have amplified calls for accountability. "Mike Johnson is terrified of Trump (and what might be in the Epstein files)," wrote Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov. "The GOP's contempt for the American people couldn't be more obvious."
President Donald Trump, under pressure from his base, said on July 15 that Attorney General Pam Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible" and backed calls to disclose grand jury testimony, further inflaming the internal debate among Republicans.
