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Dulcinea

(9,500 posts)
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 08:18 AM Nov 14

Johnson shifts strategy on Epstein files vote - as GOP leaders brace for mass defections

(CNN) House Speaker Mike Johnson decided to quickly schedule a House vote on an effort to force the release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein case files once the calculation was made that it couldn’t be stopped.

The decision marked a shift in strategy for Johnson and the White House, who had long sought to delay the process, ​three sources told CNN.

House GOP leaders are bracing for a significant number of Republicans to break from President Donald Trump and support the bipartisan bill led by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna calling for the Justice Department to release the Epstein files — as supporters push for a veto-proof majority.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/johnson-shifts-strategy-epstein-files-223104680.html

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Johnson shifts strategy on Epstein files vote - as GOP leaders brace for mass defections (Original Post) Dulcinea Nov 14 OP
Who's going on record to protect pedophiles? surfered Nov 14 #1
Actions will speak much louder than their lies, as always! SheltieLover Nov 14 #2
Birds of a feather will be flocking together in that vote. cstanleytech Nov 14 #5
Expect many Repug abstentions. Sneederbunk Nov 14 #8
And the real hypocritical thing is that Johnson tried to make it a voice vote Bluetus Nov 15 #20
MAGA bootlickers IronLionZion Nov 14 #9
Did he shut down the House again.............. Lovie777 Nov 14 #3
Just a thought, but... 3825-87867 Nov 14 #4
But no joke, YodaMom2 Nov 14 #14
Not sure: There may be many honest FBI agents who made copies... Justice matters. Nov 14 #19
That isn't the biggest risk Bluetus Nov 15 #21
What does this mean? Is he now pushing for a Friday night news dump? Baitball Blogger Nov 14 #6
Is he trying to get the vote done before there is a veto-proof majority? n/t NH Ethylene Nov 14 #7
I suspect quite a few of the Republicans would like to be rid of tRump one way or another. diane in sf Nov 14 #10
Makes one wonder if there might be impeachment proceedings coming KS Toronado Nov 14 #18
which makes them even bigger cowards Skittles Nov 15 #23
They should have done this from the very beginning -- take the hit and get it over with, don't just drag it out over Fil1957 Nov 14 #11
Anyone voting against the release of the Epstein files sdfernando Nov 14 #12
Has there ever been a worse Speaker? Johnson is horrible! young_at_heart Nov 14 #13
Trump will veto any Epstein release bill that passes Zorro Nov 14 #15
Hopefully the vote is veto proof. OLDMDDEM Nov 14 #16
That's not the big picture Bluetus Nov 15 #22
K&R BlueWavePsych Nov 14 #17

Bluetus

(2,009 posts)
20. And the real hypocritical thing is that Johnson tried to make it a voice vote
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:30 PM
Nov 15

so that Republicans would not have to be on record.

Fortunately the House is not run by Schumer. If Schumer were running that, he would have agreed to a voice vote under the theory that we have to protect Bill Clinton or something.

IronLionZion

(50,474 posts)
9. MAGA bootlickers
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 10:40 AM
Nov 14

Megyn Kelly is on the record on her show trying to minimize the crimes like a true deplorable.

3825-87867

(1,745 posts)
4. Just a thought, but...
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 08:45 AM
Nov 14

something smells rotten in D.C!

Heard a rumor the Powers That Be ordered a million bucks worth of paper shredders, 200,000 gallons of gas , a new larger, "more comfortable" coffin for the Latest Ex Ms. Trump and a total renovation for part of the First Tee of his NJ golf course. He's also de-turfing some old land and putting up The Ivana Parking Lot! (Giant Stadium was full!)

YodaMom2

(142 posts)
14. But no joke,
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 12:10 PM
Nov 14

with the 1,000+ FBI agents that *sshole had combing through the records, I’d be willing to bet that whatever is released will be so heavily redacted that it will be unreadable.

Justice matters.

(9,154 posts)
19. Not sure: There may be many honest FBI agents who made copies...
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 04:09 PM
Nov 14

Ethical FBI agents who really don't like the criminal bondi-patel-bongino cover up just waiting for the right moment to be 'anonymous' leakers... (to help save democracy and be Heroes).

Bluetus

(2,009 posts)
21. That isn't the biggest risk
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:35 PM
Nov 15

The redactions will mostly be obvious that they involved Trump. And the redactions may look worse than the truth for Trump. The committee will be able to subpoena testimony from the lawyers who scrubbed this stuff.

The bigger issue is that Trump's Doj has probably already destroyed the most incriminating evidence. These people are completely lawless.

Skittles

(168,776 posts)
23. which makes them even bigger cowards
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 09:18 PM
Nov 15

they have been covering for Trump instead of serving WE THE PEOPLE

Fil1957

(430 posts)
11. They should have done this from the very beginning -- take the hit and get it over with, don't just drag it out over
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 11:07 AM
Nov 14

several months...

sdfernando

(5,977 posts)
12. Anyone voting against the release of the Epstein files
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 11:32 AM
Nov 14

is protecting pedophiles....FULL STOP!

The campaign ads will write themselves and should be plastered everywhere in every one of their districts. Online ads, social media campaigns, TV/cable, EVERYWHERE! Make them OWN this vote and see how many get reelected....that along with the dummymandering in Texas could swing the house way over to the Democratic side

young_at_heart

(3,988 posts)
13. Has there ever been a worse Speaker? Johnson is horrible!
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 11:32 AM
Nov 14

Just listening to him speak makes my blood pressure rise.....something I can't afford to have happen!

Bluetus

(2,009 posts)
22. That's not the big picture
Sat Nov 15, 2025, 04:53 PM
Nov 15

This vote puts the pedo enablers on record. And most MAGA people seem to still be strongly in the camp to release the files. Some of them evidently believe it will nail Hunter Biden or Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter or something, but not Trump. But many other MAGA people have had enough of Trump. That seems to be where MTG is, and there are many MAGA people in her camp.

The key will be how many Republicans in the House vote for release. If it is only the 4 who signed the petition, then nothing will come as a result. It will never get a vote in the Senate.

But let's say 50 Republicans in the House vote against Trump . In that case, this could spook the Senate Republicans. I mean, we just had a very lopsided election that would have been an historic disaster for Republicans if it were the mid-terms. If this is closely followed by the House throwing Trump under the bus, that could set many things in motion, including some Cabinet members and Vance distancing themselves from Poison Don.

And remember that the FBI has been showing Republicans evidence (pictures) that everyone describes as much worse than anything that has been reported publicly. If Senators see that evidence and also see the House running away from Trump, even thing could change quickly. We could very plausibly see that Watergate-style call on the President, "Sir, I'm afraid there are not the votes to save you. You have to resign."

Everybody hates Trump, with the possible exception of Miller. If they see him wobbly, they will want to finish him off.

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