Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) repudiated his Republican colleagues on Wednesday for opposing his effort to force the Justice Department (DOJ) to publicly release information on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In remarks to CNN’s Manu Raju, the leader of the GOP rebellion warned his colleagues that they’re making a political mistake.
“I care most about the policy here — not the politics of it — but, politically, it’s really bad for Republicans,” Massie said. “They should just have this vote and put it behind them.”
The Kentucky Republican added that the GOP’s position is “at odds” with their base of supporters.
“It’s not just Independents and Democrats who want these files released,” Massie said, adding that “80 percent” of Republicans support releasing more files. “So, they’re at odds with our base right now, and particularly the MAGA base.”
Republican leaders have urged party members to steer clear of Massie’s discharge petition, which aims to circumvent leadership and force a floor vote on his “Epstein Files Transparency Act.” The bill would require DOJ to release all of the files related to their investigation of the disgraced financier and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
That legislation is opposed by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who offered an alternative proposal designed to bolster an Epstein investigation that is already underway in the House Oversight Committee.
Supporters of Massie’s approach, including the victims who appeared at the Capitol on Wednesday, have rejected Johnson’s alternative bill, saying it lacks the teeth to compel the Trump administration to release more documents.
“Their resolution doesn’t really do anything, and that’s the oldest trick in the swamp,” Massie said Wednesday. “When you want to kill the momentum, … you release a placebo — a different bill that does nothing — and then try to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people.”
“That’s not going to happen this time,” he added.
The discharge petition requires the support of 218 House lawmakers to be successful. Because all 212 Democrats are expected to endorse it, supporters need six Republicans. Four GOP lawmakers have already signed on: Reps. Massie, Nancy Mace (S.C.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.).
Greene said she has received “a lot” of pushback from the White House over supporting the petition.
