In a stunning move Monday night, GOP leaders abruptly recessed a key Rules Committee meeting and canceled the rest of the week’s legislative business. The reason: Democrats were about to force a vote demanding the public release of Epstein-related documents. Rather than deal with it, Republicans shut everything down and left town.
“We’ll see you in September,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, who led the push for the vote.
McGovern supported a bipartisan resolution—introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna—that would compel the Biden administration to release Epstein’s network records. “Democrats on the Rules Committee gave Republicans a choice — either vote to release the Epstein Files, or keep them a secret,” McGovern said. “Republicans are so afraid of taking that vote that they are torching their own agenda instead of doing something they promised the voters they would do.”
The bill had support from some Republicans, including Massie himself, who showed up to the Capitol holding a binder labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 2.”
“Their Epstein bill resolution is non-binding so it’s kind of fake,” Massie told reporters, referring to a watered-down GOP version. “The resolution I have with Khanna would be binding on the President.”
But House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to bring either bill to the floor.
“Why not vote on the binding Massie-Khanna Epstein legislation this week @SpeakerJohnson?” Massie posted on X. “We should not punt this until after the 5 week recess.”
Instead of allowing a vote, Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise ended the Rules Committee session and canceled all remaining business for the week. “The work of the House will continue all week,” Johnson insisted Monday night, “and we won’t allow [Democrats] a platform to try and engage in political games.”
Scalise told reporters the committee likely wouldn’t reconvene at all before recess. That means no Epstein vote, and no action on other pending bills either—including a GOP-backed immigration measure and a water permitting bill.
Republicans claimed Democrats were just grandstanding. “They want to make Epstein — and, you know, we’re all for transparency, and we’re going to do that, but what they want to do is grandstand,” said Rep. Ralph Norman. “They said they’ll be there all night, we’ll be there all night.”
But Democrats weren’t buying it. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted: “Ummm so let me get this straight: Republicans have ground Congress to a halt and are considering adjourning the entire House for 6 weeks to avoid releasing the info they have on Epstein? What is going on here?”
The shutdown comes just days after the Justice Department released a memo confirming Epstein died by suicide in 2019—and that there is no “client list.” The statement directly contradicted conspiracy theories pushed for years by Trump allies who claim Epstein was murdered.
Trump, reportedly furious about the memo, lashed out at his own base. He called supporters who fell for the Epstein “hoax” “weaklings” and claimed—falsely—it was all a Democrat-driven narrative. He later walked it back, saying he still supports the release of “credible” documents, but told his followers to move on.
Last week, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing grand jury materials related to Epstein.
Still, Speaker Johnson defended his decision to stall the vote. “There is no daylight between the House Republicans, the House, and the president on maximum transparency,” he said. “All of that is in process right now.”
Critics aren’t buying that either.
“Incredible,” wrote Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett. “House Republicans have shut down the Rules Committee, effectively canceling House votes this week—to avoid Dem amendments to release the Epstein files. It looks like Republicans in Congress are co-signing on a massive Trump cover-up.”
McGovern added: “Trump and his top allies have been pushing this for years — and people aren’t going to forget about it in a month.”
Now the House is off for recess until September—when Republicans hope the Epstein backlash will be old news. Until then, no vote is expected.
