House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana has intensified his criticism of fellow Republican Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky amid ongoing discussions about transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Johnson went on record stating, “I would describe virtually everything Thomas Massie says, as related to this issue, as meaningless.” This strong rebuke comes shortly before Massie introduced a measure aimed at bypassing leadership to force a vote on legislation for the release of various Department of Justice records linked to Epstein.
While Johnson supports a separate resolution that goes through the House Oversight Committee, Massie and his colleague, Representative Ro Khanna from California, are pursuing a discharge petition. This rare procedural move allows lawmakers to circumvent typical leadership channels if a majority of House members agree. Massie expressed optimism about this effort, telling Fox News Digital, “I think there’s a real good chance of that,” anticipating sufficient signatures to meet the threshold by week’s end.
As of the latest counts, the petition has gained only two signatures—Massie’s and that of Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts. In response to Johnson’s harsh comments, Massie dismissed the Speaker’s plan as a “placebo resolution.” He called out Johnson for copying elements from his proposal, saying, “He copied three pages out of my resolution. I mean, we wrote this from scratch. So if he thinks it’s meaningless, why is he copying it and taking the teeth out of it?” Massie went further, asserting, “He is afraid of President Donald Trump. Mike Johnson’s speakership just hangs on that thread.”
The Department of Justice is already providing thousands of files to the Oversight Committee under a bipartisan subpoena, but some information may be redacted. Johnson defended his approach, arguing it balances the need for transparency with the privacy concerns of Epstein’s victims. “I would not put much stock into what Thomas Massie says,” Johnson remarked. He reiterated the commitment of House Republicans to “maximum disclosure and maximum transparency with the Epstein files,” all while protecting innocent victims from further harm.
The investigation into Epstein has recently gained renewed attention after an internal memo indicated the matter was effectively closed. Despite this, Massie and Khanna are set to hold a press conference where they will be joined by several of Epstein’s victims to advocate for their resolution. Their efforts reflect the growing divisions within the Republican Party regarding how to manage the complexities of the DOJ’s handling of Epstein’s case.
This conflict not only highlights differing approaches within the party but also raises questions about accountability and the integrity of legislative processes involved in high-profile investigations. As lawmakers clash over transparency and disclosures, the implications of these discussions extend beyond party lines and into broader conversations about justice for victims.
"*" indicates required fields
