‘The rule was going down’: Inside the House GOP’s Epstein meltdown

Inside his cavernous office on Monday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson was facing a growing crisis. The House GOP conference, which included some of the Louisiana Republican’s key allies, was in full rebellion over the spiraling Jeffrey Epstein situation.

Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx of Virginia and panel member Erin Houchin of Indiana informed House leaders that Republicans on the panel would not advance any rule for the week — the prerequisite for the chamber to fully function — without a better solution to the Epstein problem, according to two people with direct knowledge of the conversation.

The lawmakers knew that bucking their own leadership was an extreme response. But panel Republicans were incensed that a week earlier they were all but forced to vote against a Democratic effort calling for the release of Epstein-related information. Many, including Houchin, were under intense pressure from constituents to support the unsealing, and they wanted leaders to provide more political cover.