Latest news with #dischargePetition
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Congress has closed early for summer amid Trump-Epstein discourse
House Speaker Mike Johnson halted House proceedings to block Democratic attempts to force the release of files related to sex trafficking financier Jeffrey Epstein. Johnson accused Democrats of weaponising the Rules process, while this action occurred amidst ongoing criticism of Donald Trump's handling of promised Epstein file disclosures. The procedural halt risks the House's ability to pass crucial spending bills before the August recess, potentially leading to a government shutdown upon their return. Republicans faced disarray following a Justice Department memo stating no further Epstein disclosure was warranted and a report alleging a birthday card from Donald Trump to Epstein, which Donald Trump denied and sued over. A bipartisan discharge petition, led by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, is gaining traction to force a floor vote on the Epstein files, bypassing committee processes, with the vote expected in September after the recess.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers are trying to run home for the summer before they are forced to vote on Epstein controversy
GOP lawmakers are itching to leave Washington, D.C. for the summer as fears mount over a potential vote on the full release of the so-called 'Epstein files' – as the saga continues to embroil the Trump White House. House Republican leaders have faced internal pressure to send members home, POLITICO reported, amid suggestions of a bipartisan 'discharge petition' that would force a vote. The petition effort was launched Tuesday by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, according to the outlet. It could be ready for signatures and a floor vote as soon as next week. Previous efforts by the Democrats to corner the GOP on a vote have been unsuccessful, despite discontent within Republican ranks about the Trump administration's handling of the information's release. Republicans Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene are two of the few Republicans in Congress calling for the full release of the Epstein documents, while other GOP lawmakers itch to go home for the summer break (Getty) The president himself has expressed his frustration on multiple occasions with his MAGA support base's obsession with the files, despite the Justice Department's release of a memo stating there was no evidence to support a so-called 'client list' belonging to the disgraced financier. The unsatisfying conclusion to the hyped-up saga has incited the wrath of right-wing influencers as well as House Republicans. Foreshadowing his petition, Massie promised to force a House vote on 'releasing the COMPLETE files,: while Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted: 'This is the most famous pedophile in modern-day history, and people are absolutely not going to accept just a memo that was written that says there is no client list.' However, according to POLITICO, the hope among GOP ranks is that Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise will cancel next week's scheduled House session and instead send members home for an extended summer recess once voting concludes Thursday or Friday. The president himself has expressed his own frustration on multiple occasions with his MAGA support base's obsession with the files, despite the Justice Department's release of a memo stating there was no evidence to support a so-called 'client list' belonging to the disgraced financier () If this happens, members will avoid a potential vote next week and the issue may be less of interest by the time they return to Washington in September. However, on Thursday, Punchbowl News reported that Johnson's leadership team was discussing an Epstein-related resolution to quell the unrest. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was pummelled with questions about the ongoing saga, saying that she did not know if Trump had knowledge of the files' contents, and blasting the Democrats for their fixation. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump called the ongoing interest in the Epstein files a 'scam' and a 'hoax' put on by 'Radical Left Democrats.' Asked about Trump's use of the word 'hoax' on Thursday, Leavitt replied: 'The president is referring to the fact that Democrats have now seized on this as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein.' 'The week was a big kick in the balls,' a senior administration official told Rolling Stone on Wednesday.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Lawmakers are trying to run home for the summer before they are forced to vote on Epstein controversy
GOP lawmakers are itching to leave Washington, D.C. for the summer as fears mount over a potential vote on the full release of the so-called 'Epstein files' – as the saga continues to embroil the Trump White House. House Republican leaders have faced internal pressure to send members home, POLITICO reported, amid suggestions of a bipartisan 'discharge petition' that would force a vote. The petition effort was launched Tuesday by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, according to the outlet. It could be ready for signatures and a floor vote as soon as next week. Previous efforts by the Democrats to corner the GOP on a vote have been unsuccessful, despite discontent within Republican ranks about the Trump administration's handling of the information's release. The president himself has expressed his frustration on multiple occasions with his MAGA support base's obsession with the files, despite the Justice Department 's release of a memo stating there was no evidence to support a so-called 'client list' belonging to the disgraced financier. The unsatisfying conclusion to the hyped-up saga has incited the wrath of right-wing influencers as well as House Republicans. Foreshadowing his petition, Massie promised to force a House vote on 'releasing the COMPLETE files,: while Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted: 'This is the most famous pedophile in modern-day history, and people are absolutely not going to accept just a memo that was written that says there is no client list.' However, according to POLITICO, the hope among GOP ranks is that Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise will cancel next week's scheduled House session and instead send members home for an extended summer recess once voting concludes Thursday or Friday. If this happens, members will avoid a potential vote next week and the issue may be less of interest by the time they return to Washington in September. However, on Thursday, Punchbowl News reported that Johnson's leadership team was discussing an Epstein-related resolution to quell the unrest. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was pummelled with questions about the ongoing saga, saying that she did not know if Trump had knowledge of the files' contents, and blasting the Democrats for their fixation. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump called the ongoing interest in the Epstein files a 'scam' and a 'hoax' put on by 'Radical Left Democrats.' Asked about Trump's use of the word 'hoax' on Thursday, Leavitt replied: 'The president is referring to the fact that Democrats have now seized on this as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein.' 'The week was a big kick in the balls,' a senior administration official told Rolling Stone on Wednesday.
