Outgoing Trump foe Massie forces new Epstein files showdown
Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) secured the 218 signatures needed to force another House showdown over the Jeffrey Epstein files Wednesday, just one day after fellow Republicans blocked his attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key points
- The intrigue: President Trump helped drive Massie out of Congress by backing a primary challenger, but the Kentucky Republican is using his final weeks in office to challenge the administration on some of its most politically sensitive topics.
- This latest effort could force Republicans to revisit a scandal that dogged the Trump administration for more than a year, even after Congress overwhelmingly voted to require the release of Epstein's files.
- This time, Massie wants to give Epstein survivors, state prosecutors and lawmakers the power to sue the Justice Department over records they believe it has unlawfully withheld.
Why it matters: Congress overwhelmingly voted last year to force the release of the Epstein files, but survivors and lawmakers say the Trump administration has still withheld records.
Additional details
- A report released Tuesday by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee faulted the Trump administration's handling of the disclosures, including failures to protect victims and excessive redactions concealing alleged co-conspirators.
- Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) led the original push to force the release of the Epstein files.
- The controversy: Epstein survivors and lawmakers have accused DOJ of withholding too much information while simultaneously exposing victims through inadequate redactions.
- Just four Republicans signed the petition: Massie, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
- What he's saying: "I'm working closely with @RepJayapal, @RepTeresaLF and @RepRoKhanna to get this to the floor for a vote soon," Massie wrote on X.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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