GOP lawmakers 'not going to see everything coming' as colleague vows to force Epstein vote

According to Rep. Tom Massie (R-KY,) there is no way his Republican colleagues in the House are going to be able to avoid a vote to compel the Department of Justice the Department of Justice to turn over the Jeffrey Epstein files when they return from their summer recess.

In an interview with NOTUS, where he was also asked about his ongoing war with Donald Trump, with the president vowing to do everything he can to unseat the Kentucky Republican, Massie explained that he’s not worried about the president or interference tactics being plotted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

Massie has long been a thorn in Trump’s side, bucking him on his budget bill among other skirmishes.

With regard to efforts to oust him in the GOP primary preceding the 2026 midterm vote, he told NOTUS, “A lot of my colleagues are waiting to see what happens to me. If I lose, they’re going to be even more scared than they are now. When I do win there’ll be more Republicans who are emboldened to not be rubber stamps and to vote their conscience.”

Asked about his battle with Speaker Johnson, who sent the House into recess early in order to avoid a vote on the Epstein files, which are causing the Trump administration no small amount of grief, Massie said they have been in communication and that Johnson is taking their squabble personally.

Responding to Johnson’s complaint, “I don’t understand. I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works,” Massie explained, “He’s acting like he’s a victim somehow and that he’s being persecuted merely because I want the Epstein files released,” Massie pointed out, “He takes all these things personally, and I’m just doing my job.”

As for pushing through a floor vote on releasing files on Epstein, Massie pointed out that his time serving on the House Rules Committee has given him the “procedural” know-how to work the system to his advantage.

As he told NOTUS, “They’re not going to see everything that’s coming. They’re not going to get out of taking a vote.”

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