Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) urged the Senate Tuesday to pass a bipartisan measure forcing the Justice Department to release files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, saying, "Don't muck it up."
The big picture: The comments come just ahead of a House vote to compel the files' release. The bill is expected to sail through the House, despite President Trump's prior attempts to quell the demands to release more evidence.
- But in a shock reversal — and rare defeat from his oft-loyal base — the president called this week for House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files, saying "it's time to move on from this Democrat Hoax."
- Trump's switch-up undercut months of work House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had done that, intentionally or not, delayed the discharge petition from reaching the floor.
Driving the news: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who said Trump severed ties with her over her support for the Epstein vote, predicted a unanimous vote in the House during Tuesday's press conference alongside Massie, Rep. Khanna (D-Calif.) and several Epstein survivors.
- "But the fight, the real fight, will happen after that," she said, adding, "the real test will be, will the Department of Justice release the files, or will it all remain tied up in investigations?"
Zoom out: Massie appealed directly to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has been noncommittal on the measure: "It's up to him. He needs to bring this to the floor of the Senate. And I think the vote today will show that."
- Khanna seconded that, pointing to Trump's surprise pledge to sign the bill. There is "no reason for the Senate" to "muck around with it," he said.
- Thune's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
But Johnson, who has contended the measure doesn't adequately protect victims, said during his Tuesday press conference he had shared his concerns about the measure with Thune and said he's "confident" his chamber will amend the bill.
- Massie called Johnson's argument "a red herring" and said it's fine if the Senate wants to add additional protections. But he noted the bill would then have to return to the House for another vote.
- "Justice delayed is justice denied," he said, suggesting "it could be just another delay tactic."
Yes, but: Trump's last-minute reversal did little to insulate him from criticism during Tuesday's press conference.
- Jena-Lisa Jones, a survivor, implored the president to "stop making this political," citing his demand for the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's connections to former President Bill Clinton and others.
Trump's directive followed the release of a batch of emails from Epstein's estate that showed the disgraced financier conversing with several prominent individuals and suggested Trump knew about Epstein's conduct.
- "Show some class, show some real leadership, show that you actually care about the people other than yourself," Jones said. "I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment."
Friction point: Greene, who Trump has called a "traitor," insinuated the president was the one who had betrayed the American people.
- "I fought for him ... for America first, and he called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition," she said. "Let me tell you what a traitor is: A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves."
Flashback: The push to release the Epstein files gained steam over the summer when Massie and Khanna introduced a petition to sidestep leadership and force a vote to require the DOJ to share the files.
- Rep. Adelita Grijalva's (D-Ariz.) became the final signature needed for that effort when she was sworn into Congress last week after the government shutdown concluded.
What they're saying: "There is hope here," Massie said. "We fought the president, the attorney general, the FBI director, the speaker of the House and the vice president to get this win."
Go deeper: What to know before the House votes on the Epstein files
