Dems ready more Epstein attacks

Politico

4 days ago

IN TODAY'S EDITION:— How Epstein could permeate recess town halls — Senate negotiates next week's spending bills — Senate Republicans call for probe into Obama
The Jeffrey Epstein controversy could be hitting town halls across the country as House lawmakers head home over August recess.
Democratic leaders have brushed aside misgivings about dabbling in conspiracy theories to broadly paint the GOP as a party intent on protecting the powerful rather than standing up for the vulnerable.
'It's all connected,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters this week.
'This administration refuses to share the truth and be transparent ... while they are simultaneously working to shut down hospitals and urgent cares and Planned Parenthoods,' said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, previewing how Democrats would combine Epstein talking points and economic messaging in the coming weeks.
Some Democrats plan to leave Epstein to the wayside during recess, with especially those in purple districts more interested in using their town halls and other events to hammer Republicans over President Donald Trump's tariff and trade agenda, as well as the Medicaid cuts and other provisions in the GOP domestic policy package.
'I don't plan to bring [Epstein] up,' said swing district-Rep. Dave Min. 'It's not something that is top of mind.'
This could be welcome news for Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leaders, who took pains to avoid Epstein-related votes in the House this week in an effort to give the administration time over August recess to release any new information on the convicted sex offender.
GOP leaders are also telling rank and file members to use their recess time at home to promote the megabill, hoping their sales pitch for it will counteract the Democratic narrative against it: 'I'm encouraging our people to just talk about it,' NRCC chair Richard Hudson told reporters.
Still, Democrats are making clear the Epstein issue isn't going away, especially after Democrats succeeded in getting enough Republicans to join them in a vote to subpoena the DOJ's entire Epstein file during an Oversight subcommittee markup Thursday.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in an interview this week said that Republicans are trying to 'expedite' the process of releasing information on Epstein, but acknowledged it depends how quickly the courts respond to Trump administration efforts to unseal grand jury information.
'I don't think anybody can predict what the court's going to do, but we hope that they move quickly,' Scalise said.
Expect House lawmakers to return in September to confront GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's continued push to force a vote on his bipartisan bill to make Epstein materials public. Lawmakers involved also tell Meredith that Rules Committee Republicans are dead set against helping Johnson kill off Massie's bill — for now.
Another post-recess headache that could hit Johnson? Any Rules member will be able to call up a vote on the House floor on a separate, non-binding resolution expressing support for releasing the Epstein files, which the GOP-led panel briefly considered advancing last week. If this happens, it will require Republicans to move to table, or kill, the resolution in the Rules Committee or on the House floor.
TGIF. Email us at [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail] and [e-mail]. Follow our live coverage at politico.com/congress.
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WHAT WE'RE WATCHINGWith help from Jordan Williams
The House is out for August recess.
The Senate is out and will return Monday.
— House Ways and Means will hold field hearings today and Saturday in Las Vegas and Simi Valley, Calif. to sell the GOP's recently-passed 'big, beautiful bill.'
Next week: The Senate will continue to work through appropriations bills and Trump's nominees.
Pro subscribers receive this newsletter with a full congressional schedule and can browse our comprehensive calendar of markups, hearings and other notable events around Washington. Sign up for a demo.
THE LEADERSHIP SUITE
GOP leaders await Bondi's move on Epstein
Johnson, in a CBS interview aired Thursday, claimed House Republicans are united in wanting maximum disclosure on the Epstein files and said there are 'good questions' about how Pam Bondi's Justice Department has handled the matter.
The ongoing saga — now in its third week — is mounting pressure on Trump and his attorney general to produce the Epstein evidence that Bondi said the DOJ had in February. And the president's allies are increasingly voicing concerns that Bondi, who has not yet addressed the controversy in a public setting, has a blind spot for the damage she has caused, Kyle Cheney, Meredith and Erica Orden report.
House GOP leaders have an understanding with the White House that lawmakers will refrain from taking floor action on the matter as the administration works to unseal more documents related to the case — though many rank-and-file Republicans are skeptical.
'[Bondi] has very little time to turn this around,' said one House Republican, granted anonymity to describe the view inside the conference.
Across the Capitol, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the administration to provide a 'closed-door briefing to all senators' about 'Trump's name appearing in these files and the complete lack of transparency shown to date.' It's the latest in a string of efforts by Democrats to force some action by the administration as the Epstein issue continues to be a thorn in Trump's side.
Senate negotiates appropriations package
Senate GOP leaders are considering grouping three spending bills into a single package before leaving for August recess, Jordain Carney, Katherine Tully-McManus and Jennifer Scholtes report. Those bills would fund the VA and military construction projects; the Department of Agriculture and the FDA; and the Departments of Commerce and Justice.
The package, filed Thursday afternoon by Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, would postpone consideration of the bill to fund congressional operations until some later date. That's a shift from the previous plan, but it became a necessity to switch gears after Sen. John Kennedy said he was opposed to the legislative branch funding measure. Senate Appropriations also on Thursday approved bills to fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior Department and EPA. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to wait to take these up until the fall, already having his hands full with the funding measures that had previously been under consideration for inclusion in the so-called minibus.
'It's a question of, right now can, we get any of these bills into the package,' Thune told Jordain on Thursday.
POLICY RUNDOWN
BOOZMAN CRITICIZES USDA REORG ROLLOUT — Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman said Thursday that he was 'disappointed' USDA officials didn't consult Congress on a new sweeping reorganization plan, Marcia Brown reports. Boozman's comments come as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that her agency will move most Washington-area staff to Salt Lake City; Fort Collins, Colo.; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Raleigh, N.C.
Boozman told Marcia that he wants to hold a hearing soon to understand USDA leadership's rationale for the move, adding that he has questions about what the relocations would mean for the department's efficiency. USDA employees, granted anonymity to speak freely for fear of reprisals, said in interviews they thought the move would allow USDA leadership to concentrate power in Washington and move potentially dissident voices out to the 'hubs.'
REPUBLICANS CALL FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL PROBE OF OBAMA — Senate Judiciary Republicans John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham are calling for Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Barack Obama, his staff and members of his administration. The move comes after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard presented newly declassified intelligence at the White House Wednesday, which she alleged showed that the Obama administration 'knowingly lied' about Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election.
Gabbard's presentation sparked outrage within the Congressional Black Caucus, with CBC Whip Kamlager-Dove leading a letter to Gabbard decrying the director's 'egregious' presentation. The 22 Democratic signers called on Gabbard to resign.
'As Director of National Intelligence, your job is to safeguard truth, not spread propaganda,' the lawmakers wrote. 'Instead, you have abused your position to promote a partisan narrative rooted in conspiracy and discredited claims.'
SENATE TAX WRITERS TALK SECOND RECONCILIATION BILL — Senate Finance member Steve Daines told Benjamin Thursday that he's actively discussing a potential second party-line reconciliation bill with other members of the tax writing committee. Daines said Trump's idea to eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of primary residences is 'a good idea' and that it should be combined with 'additional tax reform.'
Daines' comments come as Finance Chair Mike Crapo indicated this week that he'd like to look at opportunities across health and tax jurisdictions for year-end legislation, though the Idaho Republican told Benjamin earlier this week he isn't sure yet about Trump's new tax proposal to rid capital gains taxes on houses.
'I gotta think about it,' Crapo said.
Best of POLITICO Pro and E&E:
THE BEST OF THE REST
Sen. Angus King Admits His Vote For Anti-Abortion Judge Was 'A Mistake,' from Jennifer Bendery and Igor Bobic at HuffPost
Republicans plan to use the threat of impeachment as a key midterm issue, from Peter Nicholas, Olympia Sonnier and Julie Tsirkin at NBC
CAMPAIGN STOP
TRUMP ENDORSES WHATLEY — Trump officially endorsed RNC chair Michael Whatley to run for Senate in North Carolina on Thursday night, which Dasha Burns scooped that morning. Whatley will enter the race to replace Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced his retirement last month.
HOCHUL OPEN TO NY REDISTRICTING — Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is not ruling out a mid-decade redrawing of New York's House lines to benefit her party, as deep red Texas and Ohio move to reshape their maps through redistricting, Nick Reisman reports.
Hochul's office and Jeffries have been in close touch about this possibility since Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a special legislative session to reshape Texas districts, which would benefit Republicans. The move in New York would almost certainly be hit with legal challenges since state law stipulates redistricting may only be done once a decade, but Hochul is unconcerned.
'All's fair in love and war. We're following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years,' Hochul said during an event Thursday in Buffalo. 'But if there's other states violating the rules and are trying to give themselves an advantage, all I'll say is, I'm going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.'
CAUCUS MOVES — House Democrats' Lowering Costs Caucus is rolling out a new framework and planning document to help the party talk about inflation during the August recess. Members of the new coalition are urging Democrats to hold events to blame Republicans for spiking the cost of goods, from coffee to groceries.
JOB BOARD
Misha S. Linnehan is now press secretary for Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee. She was most recently deputy press secretary for former Sen. Bob Casey and previously worked for Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Democratic Party.
Cameron Anders Clark has been promoted to director of operations for Rep. Adam Smith.
Juliette Chandler is now deputy comms director for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi's Senate campaign. She most recently was digital director and press secretary for Rep. Lori Trahan.
Gigi Powers has been promoted to operations director for the Senate HELP Committee. She most recently was a health research assistant for the committee.
TUNNEL TALK
HOUSEKEEPING UPDATE — A new closed captioning service funded by the Modernization Initiatives Account is now available to every House committee.
Reps. Stephanie Bice and Norma Torres — the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation, respectively — announced the new service Thursday as part of the panel's effort to make the House more 'accessible to all.'
The captioning service, which has a 98% accuracy rate, allows for real-time captioning on committee room screens during hearings. A committee-specific QR code will allow attendees to access real-time captions on their phones or tablets.
HILL PROGRESSIVES JOIN HOUSE FOOD BOYCOTT — The Congressional Progressive Staff Association is standing in solidarity with the House food workers boycotting the chamber's new food vendors. Only two of the House's seven new subcontractors have agreed to rehire the existing workforce and acknowledge their union-negotiated base pay and benefits.
The boycott includes Starbucks, Pakistani food restaurant CHA Street Food, Jimmy John's, Common Grounds, Java House and PX Tacos.
'We urge staff and allies to consider joining Unite Here's boycott until they commit to rehiring the current unionized workforce,' CPSA posted on X. 'These workers deserve respect, not replacement.'
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rep. Jared Golden … Brad Karp … Alex Nguyen of Schumer's office … Andrew Feldman of Feldman Strategies … Kirsten Sutton … Sarah Benzing … Fox News' Katy Ricalde … Daily Mail's Kelly Laco … Ella Gunn … Liz Brown of the Children's Hospital Association … Ducks Unlimited's Parker Williams … Rebecca Gale … Annie Lentz of Rep. Maggie Goodlander's office … Consumer Bankers Association's Billy Rielly … USDA's Jennifer Tiller … CNBC's Karen James Sloan
TRIVIA
THURSDAY'S ANSWER: Jim Weinstein correctly answered that Bud Shuster and his son Bill Shuster held the same House seat (PA-09) and chaired the same committee (Transportation and Infrastructure).
TODAY'S QUESTION, from Jim: When George Washington traveled from New York during a congressional recess in 1789, he started a tradition by visiting the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. (Vermont and Maine were not yet states.) Why did he skip Rhode Island?
The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to [e-mail].
CORRECTION: Yesterday's trivia had an error; President Truman's daughter was named Margaret. Our apologies.