House stymied as Speaker Johnson's handpicked committee rebels over Epstein [View all]

Source: The Hill

House stymied as Speaker Johnson’s handpicked committee rebels over Epstein

by Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell - 07/23/25 6:00 AM ET

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.

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

Unlike other fights during Johnson’s Speakership, the problem this time isn’t hard-line conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus, but rather members Johnson has counted on in the past to push his priorities through the Rules Committee and to the House floor.

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Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5414582-speaker-johnson-rules-committee-epstein/