The House approved a symbolic measure that would affirm the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s investigation into the handling of case against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The measure, included in a House rule that cleared in 212-208 vote, has no practical implications, as the Oversight panel is free to continue its probe without any further action on the floor. However, the House GOP leadership has been touting the investigation as a better alternative to Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s controversial legislation that would compel the release of materials in the Epstein case in 30 days.
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), his chief co-sponsor, have been building support for a discharge petition that would compel a floor vote on their measure. The duo need two more Republican votes, if all Democrats sign on as expected, to force the vote.
Entering the House floor just before the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson insisted again to reporters that the Oversight provision in the rule would bear fruit.
Johnson also reiterated his opposition to Massie’s discharge petition, even as some victims have said they support Massie’s effort.
“I don’t begrudge anything that the victims have said. … It’s a heroic thing that they’re doing,” Johnson said. “But there are hundreds and hundreds of other women, some of them recruited and groomed as minors, as young as 13 years old, who do not want their identities to be known.”
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
