Johnson Shuts Down House to Block Epstein Vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., canceled votes planned for Thursday before Democrats could force another vote on releasing the remaining Epstein files—accusing them of playing “political games”—sending the House into its summer recess early as President Trump faces continued political turmoil over the failure to release information about the notorious financier.

Johnson called the Democrats’ vote to release the remaining files on the disgraced financier a “sideshow” and insisted the “the American people are best served by putting an end” to the votes.

The final votes before the recess are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Johnson’s announcement came after the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Justice Department would meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for charges including trafficking underage girls to Epstein.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee also began taking steps to depose Maxwell, preparing a subpoena for her to testify before the committee.

Johnson has spent much of the last few weeks managing the fallout from the Justice Department’s memo and announcement it would release no further files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein—a key promise President Donald Trump made at multiple points during his presidential campaign but has now backtracked from, instead saying a “hoax” is behind the outrage On Monday, Johnson insisted congressional Republicans were in lock-step in their approach to dealing with future Epstein files releases, but members of his own party continued to object.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., broke with Republicans again Monday, warning leadership “the base will turn and there’s no going back.” The administration also faces flailing poll numbers, with only 17% of Americans, and just 35% of Republicans, surveyed in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll approving of its handling of the release.

Last week, Democrats on the House Rules Committee forced a vote on an amendment requiring Congress to release the remaining Epstein files. The amendment was rejected by seven of the Republicans on the committee. One Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., voted alongside Democrats to push for the release.

Johnson said he would shut down any further votes Monday, insisting Republicans would not allow Democrats to use another Epstein vote as a “battering ram.” However, Johnson still faces a new bipartisan move that could force a vote when the House returns from recess. One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a bipartisan discharge petition alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., which would force a floor vote on the complete release of the files.

The discharge petition requires a majority of the House signing onto for approval, and Republicans control the chamber only with a slim majority. Speaking to NBC News, Massie predicted the bill would gain momentum over the recess.

“I think, when we return in September, we'll get Phase 2 of the Epstein files because we'll get ... every Democrat and at least a dozen Republicans who want transparency and justice," the Kentucky congressman said. But Johnson criticized Massie as “the one trying to bite Republicans,” later adding “I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation, I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works, I don’t know what he’s thinking.”