Tensions within the Republican Party are escalating as divisions over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s investigative files deepen, with House Speaker Mike Johnson caught between President Donald Trump’s directives and mounting bipartisan pressure for transparency.
The controversy, which has sparked outrage among GOP constituents, has led to significant legislative maneuvers, including subpoenas and a stalled vote, as lawmakers grapple with how to address the sensitive issue.
Last week, a GOP-majority House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena the Department of Justice (DOJ) for Epstein-related files, signaling a rare break from party leadership.
House Oversight Chair James Comer also issued a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice, to testify in a deposition scheduled for August 11 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors.
Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on July 24 and 25, with her legal team affirming she would “testify truthfully” if called, though some lawmakers, including Johnson, have questioned her credibility as a witness.
The push for transparency has exposed rifts within the GOP.
Handling of Files
Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison called the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files a “political mistake,” citing raised expectations for new revelations that have yet to materialize.
“Saying you’re going to deliver when you haven’t even looked at all the files was probably a misstep,” Burlison told CNN on July 27.
He noted that a significant portion of constituent calls to his office have focused on concerns about government secrecy in the Epstein case.
Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy, a physician, took a stronger stance, likening the unreleased files to “a festering oil-infected wound” and urging their immediate release with protections for victims’ identities.
“Absolutely let it out,” Kennedy said, pledging to vote for full transparency.
Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) are spearheading a bipartisan effort to bypass Johnson’s leadership with a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing the files.
The petition, which requires 218 signatures to succeed, has garnered support from ten Republicans and is expected to gain traction when Congress reconvenes in September.
Massie warned that inaction could haunt Republicans in the 2026 midterms, stating, “This will be an issue that follows Republicans through the primaries.
Did you support transparency and justice, or did you fall into the swamp?”
Johnson, under pressure from both his party and Democrats, has maintained that he supports “maximum transparency” but criticized the Massie-Khanna petition as “reckless” for lacking sufficient victim protections.
He also denied claims that he adjourned the House early on July 23 to avoid a vote, noting the petition would not be ready until after the scheduled August recess.
“We insist upon the release of all credible evidence,” Johnson said on NBC’s Meet the Press on July 27, aligning with Trump’s call for releasing “credible” files while emphasizing the need to protect victims.
The DOJ, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has faced scrutiny for its handling of the case.
While Trump directed Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony, a Florida federal judge declined to unseal additional documents last week, citing privacy laws protecting victims and uncharged individuals.
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin emphasized that Congress cannot force the judiciary to release grand jury evidence, stating, “There is a true co-equal branch of government, so we can’t force a judicial branch to do anything.”
However, many Epstein-related documents in DOJ custody do not require court approval for release, fueling demands for action.
Trump Shifts Focus
As the controversy roils Capitol Hill, Trump has sought to shift focus.
On July 27, during a five-day trip to Scotland, he announced a framework for a trade deal with the European Union following talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
When asked if the deal was meant to distract from the Epstein uproar, Trump dismissed the suggestion, saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.
It had nothing to do with it.”
The president has repeatedly deflected questions about the Epstein case, claiming limited knowledge despite reports that Bondi informed him in May that his name appeared in the files, though no wrongdoing was indicated.
Adding to the political storm, Trump used social media over the weekend to call for the prosecution of former Vice President Kamala Harris and celebrities like Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey, falsely alleging they received illegal payments for endorsing Democratic candidates.
CNN has debunked the claim regarding Beyoncé, finding no evidence to support it.
The Epstein saga continues to challenge GOP unity, with lawmakers like Massie and Kennedy aligning with Democrats to demand accountability, while Johnson navigates pressure from Trump’s base and his own conference.
As Congress heads into recess, the issue is unlikely to fade, with constituents expected to press lawmakers for answers and the Massie-Khanna petition looming as a potential flashpoint in September.
Also Read: MAGA Now Scrutinize Trump Over Epstein Client List Failure
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