President Donald Trump’s decision to direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case was intended to appease his political base after he had called them “stupid” for demanding the files to be released. But a group of House Republicans and right-wing influencers is arguing that they will accept nothing short of the federal government releasing everything it has on Epstein’s network and any high-profile connections.
The dispute has opened a rare and unusually public rift within Trump’s MAGA movement, as some of his most vocal allies accuse the Administration of falling short of its promises. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is leading a bipartisan effort with Democrat Ro Khanna of California to force a vote on legislation requiring the full release of Epstein-related government files. At least 10 other House Republicans have endorsed the measure, including longtime Trump allies Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. That’s enough Republicans to pass the bill out of the House if every Democrat supports it.
But Republican leaders are closing ranks behind Trump. On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out bringing Massie’s bill to the floor before the upcoming August recess. “There is no daylight between the House Republicans and the President on maximum transparency,” Johnson told reporters. “He has said he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released… My belief is we need the Administration to have the space to do what it is doing.”
Pressed on whether the House would vote before recess, Johnson replied: “No.”
Massie and others aren’t backing down. Responding to a social media post from podcast host Theo Von asking why the bill can’t be brought up now, Massie wrote: “We should not punt this until after the 5-week recess, nor should we wait for my discharge petition to ripen and collect the required signatures to force the vote.”
Despite Trump’s insistence that the issue is overblown, a recent CBS News poll found that 89% of Americans—including majorities across party lines—believe the Justice Department should release all documents related to Epstein.
These are the 11 House Republicans who have backed the resolution to compel the full release of Epstein-related documents:
Thomas Massie—Kentucky’s 4th District
The libertarian from rural Kentucky has been a frequent foil to the Trump Administration, and he’s leading the charge along with Democratic Rep. Khanna to force Congress to vote on publicizing Epstein-related records. “We all deserve to know what’s in the Epstein files, who’s implicated, and how deep this corruption goes,” he wrote on social media. “Americans were promised justice and transparency.”
After Bondi said on Thursday that the Justice Department would move to release grand jury transcripts, Massie said: “Folks, Keep the pressure on, it’s working. But we want all the files.”
Trump’s allies recently launched a Super PAC to oust Massie, who is up for re-election next year and opposed the President’s domestic policy bill.
Marjorie Taylor Greene—Georgia’s 14th District
The firebrand Republican has been one of Trump’s most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill since her election in 2021. But on Monday, she appeared to warn Trump that his supporters would no longer stand behind him if the Department of Justice does not release more information on Epstein.
“If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People,” Greene posted to social media. “If not,” she continued, “The base will turn and there’s no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else.”
Tim Burchett—Tennessee’s 2nd District
Burchett has continued to urge the Department of Justice to release evidence in the Epstein case. On Sunday, he called Trump’s decision to direct the DOJ to unseal grand jury evidence “a start” but warned the full truth may never come out. “I don’t think we’re ever going to get to the bottom of … all of it, Ma’am,” Burchett said on ABC’s This Week. “You know, this town doesn’t give up its secrets very easy.”
Asked if Bondi should resign over her handling of the Epstein case, Burchett said: “I have a saying: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. If she finishes strong on this, then I’m all for it,” Burchett said. “I’m sure the learning curve is steep, and I think she blundered in the beginning, I really do, as most Americans do.”
Eric Burlison—Missouri’s 7th District
Burlison, a member of the House Oversight Committee, has urged Trump to go beyond releasing grand jury testimony, warning that such testimony may cover only a narrow slice of the case and omit critical evidence. “He needs to direct Pam Bondi to release everything they possibly can,” Burlison said in an interview with the Daily Signal. “And if you don’t have the answers, go find them. Dedicate resources to investigate it.”
Burlison has also called for congressional hearings that give victims a platform and suggested Trump consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe the Epstein case.
On Monday, he posted on social media: “From the JFK files to the Russian collusion hoax, it’s clear the deep state likes to hide the truth from the American people. Uncovering the truth about Epstein needs to be a priority as well.”
Lauren Boebert—Colorado’s 4th District
Boebert last week said that Trump should appoint a special counsel to investigate the Epstein case, suggesting that former House Republican Matt Gaetz should lead the investigation. “I think moving forward, we need a special counsel,” Boebert said, offering up Gaetz’s name. “There has to be a special investigation into this if we aren’t going to be provided information.” (Gaetz was Trump’s original pick for Attorney General before his candidacy was marred by allegations that he had paid for sex with a minor, which Gaetz denies).
The White House on Thursday said that Trump did not support the appointment of a special counsel.
Jeff Van Drew—New Jersey’s 2nd District
The former Democrat from New Jersey joined the Republican Party in 2019 during his first term in Congress. He has co-sponsored Massie’s resolution calling for the release of Epstein records. “The American people deserve full transparency,” Van Drew said in a post.
Eli Crane—Arizona’s 2nd District
Crane, who has served in the House since 2023, also signed onto the resolution forcing the Epstein files to be released, telling Axios that it’s “something that I’ve supported from day one.”
“I think there needs to be transparency, and I’m glad to see that this is bipartisan because it should be,” he said.
Cory Mills—Florida’s 7th District
Mills, an Army Veteran who joined the House in 2023, co-sponsored the resolution last Wednesday, but has not publicly commented on the Epstein case.
Tom Barrett—Michigan’s 7th District
The Michigan Republican said that he co-sponsored the resolution because “there are too many questions and not enough answers about the Epstein files.”
“I agree that it’s time to release them, which is why I put my name on a resolution to force their release and give the American people the transparency they deserve,” he wrote on X.
Max Miller—Ohio’s 7th District
Miller, who has served in the House since 2023, said he co-sponsored the resolution because “I believe in transparency and delivering the truth to the American people.”
Nancy Mace—South Carolina’s 1st District
The South Carolina Republican, who is considering a run for governor, gave a speech on the House floor in Febraury accusing four men—including her ex-fiancé—of rape, sex trafficking and other sex crimes against her. She has said she wants the Epstein files to be released and called on “any one who raped underage girls [to be] in handcuffs and behind bars.”
“I’ve always been an advocate for women and children,” she said in a social post. “The Jeffrey Epstein case is no different. I want to see arrests.”
