House Republicans will scrap several floor votes this week as internal party drama over the release of Jeffrey Epstein files derailed the work of the Rules Committee.
The panel came to a standstill Monday night as GOP leaders struggled to contain rank-and-file Republicans and their Democratic allies clamoring for a floor vote to compel the publication of materials related to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
Committee Democrats had planned to force a vote that evening on legislation that would call for the release of the materials, as the panel worked to tee up floor consideration on a slate of unrelated legislation. It was poised to be a repeat of what transpired last Thursday inside Rules.
But rather than this time work through the Democratic disruption, Republicans chose instead Monday to recess the rest of the Rules meeting altogether, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) saying it was “unlikely” that the panel would reconvene this week at all. Later, lawmakers said there were no plans to return at all.
That means House members will depart for August recess at the week’s end without being able to vote on immigration legislation and other bills that would not otherwise be able to pass on the chamber floor with a simple majority vote. The House will still vote on measures that can be taken up under an expedited procedure typically reserved for noncontroversial legislation that can pass with a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
“See you in September,” said Rules Committee ranking member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).
Scalise blamed Democrats for the meltdown.
“At the end of the day, look, Democrats are yelling and screaming,” he said in an interview. “They spent four years covering up for Epstein, and you know, at least President Trump’s in the courts right now trying to get documents released, and I really think you’re gonna see, hopefully, a lot unsealed from that and then we’ve got some other options.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the Rules Committee, also accused Democrats of “grandstanding” and said Republicans refused to give the minority party ”an endless microphone.”
McGovern, in a statement, accused Republicans.
“Democrats on the Rules Committee gave Republicans a choice — either vote to release the Epstein Files, or keep them a secret. Republicans are so afraid of taking that vote that they are torching their own agenda instead of doing something they promised the voters they would do,” he said. “Trump and his top allies have been pushing this for years — and people aren’t going to forget about it in a month.”
