House Republicans abruptly shut down legislative business on Monday, halting a scheduled vote on releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s network, as political tension over transparency in one of America’s most infamous criminal cases continues to escalate.
The move came after House Democrats signaled plans to force a vote on a resolution compelling the public release of Epstein-related records. Instead of allowing the vote to proceed, GOP leadership recessed a key Rules Committee meeting, effectively stalling legislative activity and clearing the House schedule for the week.
The procedural shutdown means the chamber will likely head into its August recess without acting on several pending bills, including a GOP-backed immigration proposal and a water-permitting measure that required expedited approval.
“We’ll see you in September,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., ranking member of the Rules Committee and a leading voice behind the push for Epstein transparency.
McGovern backed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., which would compel the release of Epstein-related files. The pair has vowed to bypass Republican leadership through a discharge petition, a procedural tool that would force a floor vote if signed by 218 members. With full Democratic support and enough Republican cosponsors, the resolution could put GOP leaders in a political bind.
Massie Criticizes GOP Leadership’s “Fake” Resolution
Speaking to reporters Monday night with a binder labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 2” in hand, Massie blasted Republican leadership for promoting a non-binding resolution.
“Their Epstein bill resolution is non-binding, so it’s kind of fake,” Massie said. “The resolution I have with Khanna would be binding on the President.”
A symbolic measure drafted by Republicans had been floated last week, following public backlash over their earlier rejection of a Democratic amendment. But House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to bring even that watered-down version to the floor.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed Monday there were no plans for the committee to reconvene this week.
GOP Denies Delay Tactics; Democrats Cry Foul
Republicans framed the Democratic effort as political theater.
“Democrats keep putting all these amendments up. They want to make Epstein— and, you know, we’re all for transparency— but what they want to do is grandstand,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. “They said they’ll be there all night. We’ll be there all night.”
Norman added that the majority refused to give Democrats “an endless microphone.”
McGovern, however, accused Republicans of abandoning their own agenda to avoid a politically sensitive vote.
“Republicans are so afraid of taking that vote that they are torching their own agenda,” he said in a statement. “Trump and his top allies have been pushing this for years— and people aren’t going to forget about it in a month.”
Speaker Johnson Aligns with Trump, Cites Ongoing DOJ Action
Speaker Johnson defended the decision to delay the vote, insisting the House and White House were aligned in supporting “maximum transparency.”
“There is no daylight between the House Republicans and the President on the Epstein files,” Johnson told reporters. He said President Trump has already instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin unsealing grand jury materials, and added, “All of that is in process right now.”
“My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing,” Johnson said. “If further congressional action is necessary, we’ll look at that.”
Later Monday night, Johnson confirmed no Epstein-related legislation would move forward this week.
“The work of the House will continue all week,” he said, “but we won’t allow [Democrats] a platform to try and engage in political games.”
Trump, DOJ Under Pressure After Epstein Memo
The floor standoff follows a Justice Department memo released last week stating that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that the government does not possess a “client list”—a finding that contradicts conspiracy theories pushed by some in the MAGA movement.
The backlash reportedly angered President Trump, who lashed out at supporters calling them “weaklings” for believing what he described as a “hoax” narrative pushed by Democrats. He later walked back the comments, reaffirming support for releasing “credible” documents while urging his base to move on.
Still, on Friday, Trump formally directed Attorney General Bondi to begin the legal process of unsealing Epstein grand jury records, though he stopped short of demanding full disclosure of the case file.
As the House leaves town with the issue unresolved, lawmakers from both parties say momentum for full Epstein transparency is growing—and the next legislative battle may bring the fight into sharper focus.
