In a surprise move, the House of Representatives will begin its August recess a day early, with Republican leadership seeking to avoid politically sensitive votes tied to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced the early adjournment Tuesday, defending the decision as a way to prevent what he called “political games” by Democrats pushing for immediate votes to force the release of Justice Department files related to Epstein and his convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“There’s no point in Congress demanding action on something the administration is already working on,” Johnson told reporters, brushing off calls for expedited transparency.
The GOP, which holds a narrow majority in the House, canceled Thursday’s scheduled votes—none of which were directly related to Epstein. Lawmakers will now leave Washington by Wednesday afternoon, effectively avoiding a growing bipartisan push for disclosure of investigative documents tied to the disgraced financier.
“We support transparency, but not at the expense of victims’ privacy or due process,” Johnson said. “Rushing this could cause more harm than good.”
The move came as tension flared within GOP ranks. Johnson criticized fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) for partnering with Democrat Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to file a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson accused Massie of aligning with Democrats purely for political gain.
“I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation,” Johnson said, visibly frustrated. “He had years to do this and suddenly it’s urgent—right as Trump is back on the ballot.”
The Epstein case has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department is under pressure after missing a self-imposed deadline to release records tied to Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes. Last week, DOJ lawyers petitioned federal judges in both New York and Florida to unseal grand jury materials, a rare move that followed intense public backlash.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former defense attorney for Donald Trump, said Tuesday that prosecutors are in talks with Maxwell’s legal team about whether she may be willing to provide further information about others who may have committed crimes against Epstein’s victims. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail in 2019, shortly after his arrest on sex trafficking charges brought by the Trump-era DOJ. He and Trump were once close, though their relationship reportedly soured in the mid-2000s.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee plans to move forward during the recess. A spokesperson confirmed the panel intends to subpoena Maxwell “as expeditiously as possible,” despite the broader chamber being out of session.
