Topline
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., canceled votes planned for Thursday before Democrats could force another vote on releasing the remaining Epstein files—accusing them of playing “political games”—sending the House into its summer recess early as President Trump faces continued political turmoil over the failure to release information about the notorious financier.
Mike Johnson leaves a press conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
Key Facts
Johnson called the Democrats’ vote to release the remaining files on the disgraced financier a “sideshow” and insisted the “the American people are best served by putting an end” to the votes.
The final votes before the recess are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson’s announcement came after the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Justice Department would meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for charges including trafficking underage girls to Epstein.
Meanwhile, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee also began taking steps to depose Maxwell, preparing a subpoena for her to testify before the committee.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.