GOP dysfunction over Epstein leaves Senate Republicans angry with House

Senate Republicans are not happy with House conservatives they view as hijacking the congressional agenda to make the disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein-related files their burning focus.

GOP senators say the matter should be left to President Trump and the Department of Justice and want House lawmakers to pay more attention to finding a way to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September. 

Instead, House Republicans on the Rules Committee have brought their chamber to a partial standstill by refusing to vote down Democratic amendments to force the publication of Epstein-related files.

The House is about to leave town for a five-week recess despite having passed only two of the regular appropriations bills for fiscal 2026.

“You can’t do anything because of Epstein,” one senior GOP senator fumed. “Wow, what a way to shut it down. … How does it happen?