House stymied as Speaker Johnson’s hand-picked committee rebels over Epstein

A rebellion over the Jeffrey Epstein files by Republican leadership allies on the House Rules Committee is giving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) one of the trickiest conundrums of his Speakership so far.

Members on the panel — often called the “Speaker’s Committee” in reference to it being a tool of leadership — held up action on a host of planned legislation this week because they were terrified of Democrats forcing more tough votes on releasing the Epstein files.

Democrats are trying to force a vote on a bipartisan resolution that would compel the publication of the files. Johnson’s hand-picked GOP Rules Committee members, meanwhile, are pressing him to bring up an alternative, non-binding resolution to release the documents. But it’s not clear that the GOP-crafted measure could garner enough support in the slim majority to pass.

Stymied by the Epstein debate and unable to bring up anything but non-controversial bills under suspension of the rules because of the standstill, House GOP leaders canceled votes that were scheduled for Thursday — sending House members home for August recess one day early.