Continued fallout from the handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s case has partially paralyzed House Republicans’ agenda this week.

Frustrated GOP lawmakers have found themselves in a political minefield over the late pedophile, pointing fingers at each other, Democrats and even the Trump administration as members of President Donald Trump’s base continue to clamor for immediate transparency.

«We ought to be consistent and transparent. So we have consistently asked for the release of the Epstein files, and that shouldn’t stop now that we are in charge,» one House Republican told Fox News Digital under the condition of anonymity.

«This issue is not going away. The quicker we deal with it and nip it in the bud, then we take it off the table as an issue the Democrats can use against us and can be used, as you see, procedurally, to stop other good legislation from going through.»

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A Department of Justice (DOJ) memo earlier this month declaring the Epstein case closed ignited a civil war within the GOP, with figures on the far right accusing Trump officials of stonewalling despite promises of transparency.

Days later, Trump called on a federal judge to release grand jury testimony in Epstein’s case.

Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the discord with newfound calls to «release the Epstein files,» as Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, put it on multiple occasions.

Democrats on the panel – which serves as the final gatekeeper to legislation that requires a simple majority vote – have used their ability to introduce an unlimited number of amendments during committee hearings to force Republicans to take politically sticky votes on releasing information about Epstein.

«There is a list, that list is a victim list. And you’ve got to carefully walk through a victims list, because it involved Epstein. Epstein was involved with minors,» said Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. «I think the other thing is, I find ironic just out of circumstance, that the Democrats are pushing so hard for an Epstein file that the Biden administration had for four years.»

It led to House GOP leaders advancing a nonbinding resolution calling on the Trump administration to release the files, though it’s not clear when that will receive a chamber-wide vote.

But Democrats pledged to work from the same playbook during a Monday night Rules Committee hearing to kick off the GOP agenda. Republicans responded by forcing those proceedings to grind to a halt.

A Department of Justice memo earlier this month declaring the Epstein case closed ignited a civil war within the GOP. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP)

House leaders canceled a planned day of voting on Thursday – sending lawmakers to August recess a day early.

«The rules committee will not be meeting, and rightfully so. They were going to use the whole time, and they told us, just amendment after amendment. They think they’ve got a wedge in this – they don’t,» committee member Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital.

He’s one of several House Republicans who told Fox News Digital they were giving deference to the Trump administration on handling the issue – while praising how the White House has handled it so far.

Multiple lawmakers told Fox News Digital that Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged Republicans in their Tuesday morning closed-door conference to allow the administration to do its work and not demand the release of information that could risk harming Epstein’s victims.

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One person said, «We don’t want to embarrass ourselves, keep asking and asking for something, then it comes out, and it’s like – ‘We didn’t want that.’ But I mean, we’ve got to trust the administration.»

«The administration has done a great job. All the wins that they have – I’m not going to let this waylay them,» Norman said. «In 45 days or two months, if nothing happens, that’ll be a problem. But that won’t happen. We’re going to get it out.»

Moments later he took to X to demand an immediate vote on the nonbinding Epstein resolution, however.

«The American people deserve action, not excuses. Let’s vote on it before August recess and get it DONE!!» Norman said.

The South Carolina Republican, who is considering a bid for governor, is one of several conservatives pushing the issue, despite GOP leaders’ pleas to stay quiet on the matter.

President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to move on, while calling on a judge to release Epstein grand jury files. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., teamed up with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on a measure that could force a House-wide vote on releasing Epstein-related documents – if it netted a majority of the chamber’s support. That mechanism, called a discharge petition, could force House GOP leaders into a difficult position when they are back in early September.

Several Republican lawmakers have signed onto Massie’s measure in support.

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee unanimously approved a move by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to call for imprisoned ex-Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to be subpoenaed.

Three more House Republicans, however, told Fox News Digital they believe most lawmakers want the matter to dissipate.

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One locked in on Massie and his nonbinding resolution, «He’s doing all of this for self-promotion and attention, and it’s sad and pathetic.»

Even Johnson took aim at Massie during his weekly press conference when asked about his discharge petition.

«It’s interesting to me that he chose the election of President Trump to bring this, to team up with the Democrats and bring this discharge petition,» the speaker said.

«I also try to follow the Scripture. You know it says, Bless those who persecute you. So let me just say about Thomas Massie: Could you just accept my Southern, bless his heart.»

Rep. Thomas Massie is aiming to force a vote on getting Epstein files released to the public. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

He also pointed out the administration was in the process of sifting through what information it could release.

‘There’s no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they’re already doing. And so this is for political games. I’m very, very resolute on this. We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims,» Johnson said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a Trump ally who is backing Massie’s discharge petition, told reporters, «I’m all for transparency, but we just have to be a little patient with the court.»

Several people noted that any bombshell information implicating Trump or other high-level figures would have leaked by now.

But the two other House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital said they and their colleagues were frustrated with how the Trump administration has handled the matter so far.

«We need to give it the opportunity to simmer down,» one of the two lawmakers said. «I will say, for me, when you say the list is on your desk, and there’s no list – you can’t take that one back. And I think that’s probably the genesis of the whole thing.»

That was in reference to Bondi telling Fox News Channel of Epstein’s client list in February, «It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.»

Another GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital, «You can’t set up all these expectations and then not expect some criticism on the backend when you decide to not move forward with it… I don’t understand it at all.»

And Massie, for his part, has remained fixed in his course while arguing that doing otherwise will cost Republicans the 2026 elections. He also accused Johnson of telling Republicans to «stick your head in the sand» and defer to the Trump administration.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been under fire by some on the right over her handling of the matter. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«If we don’t take the right side of this issue, it’s going to cost us votes in the midterms. People are becoming despondent. They’re apathetic. Why would they go vote if they gave us the House, the Senate and the White House and the transparency and justice they were promised doesn’t happen?» Massie said. «And I think it could be a real problem for us. That’s why it would behoove the speaker to bring this to the floor. It would be in the best interest of this institution just to vote this out and give it to the Senate and let them do their thing.»

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When reached for comment, the White House responded with a lengthy statement touting Trump’s accomplishments that did not mention Epstein.

«Under President Trump’s leadership, the Republican Party has achieved unprecedented unity and strength. After securing the largest share of votes ever for a Republican presidential nominee and winning majorities in both the House and Senate, President Trump has delivered the most impactful first six months of any presidency. He has fulfilled numerous campaign promises – and then some!» said spokesman Harrison Fields.

Indeed, Republicans have had a number of significant legislative successes this year, even with a razor-thin majority.

When reached for comment, a DOJ spokesperson pointed Fox News Digital to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statement on Tuesday, digging in on the department’s earlier memo.

«[I]n the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties. President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,» Blanche said. «Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department.»

China denied on Tuesday that it is doing anything wrong as it reportedly prevents «dozens» of Americans from leaving the country under an «exit ban» policy, including at least one U.S. government official.

Reports emerged Monday afternoon that an American citizen, an employee of the Commerce Department, has been barred from leaving China and prevented from returning to the U.S. since his passport, credit card, cellphone and iPad were seized on April 14, reported The New York Times. 

The passport was reportedly returned to the individual one week later on April 22, though he was told he was not allowed to leave China.

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The identity of the government official remains unknown, though a spokesperson for the State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that the individual is a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee and was traveling to China «in a personal capacity.»

While it is unclear if any other U.S. government officials have been barred from leaving China, a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry, Guo Jiakun, told reporters on Tuesday during a press briefing that he had no additional details to share.

«China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law,» he said. 

In response to Fox News Digital’s questions, the State Department said, «The Chinese government has, for many years, imposed exit bans on U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals in China, often without a clear and transparent process for resolution.

«We track these cases closely, and have raised our concern with Chinese authorities about the well being of our citizens and impact these arbitrary exit bans have on our bilateral relations and urged them to immediately allow impacted U.S. citizens to return home,» a spokesperson added.  

Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists on 23 June 2025 in Peking, China. ( Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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The department in November 2024 issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Americans considering travel to China. 

The advisory issued a warning to «exercise increased caution» due to Beijing’s «arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.»

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., said they were «not aware of» the case’s details, but added, «China always welcomes foreign citizens, including those of the United States, to come to China and guarantees their safety and legitimate rights and interests in China in accordance with the law, including freedom of entry and exit. 

«Meanwhile, foreign citizens in China should also respect and abide by Chinese laws,» the spokesperson added. 

While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has enshrined the «right to freedom of movement,» which says «everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country,» it is not an absolute right, and nations can choose to hold individuals depending on certain conditions, including national security concerns. 

It is unclear why the Commerce Department employee has been blocked from returning to the U.S. where his wife also lives, though he was apparently questioned by Chinese intelligence authorities about his prior military service. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping stands to sing the national anthem at the closing session of the National People’s Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, March 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Reporting has suggested that dozens of Americans have been barred from leaving China, including Wells Fargo Managing Director Chenyue Mao. 

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Mao is the latest business executive to be barred from leaving China, which has become increasingly common in recent years, prompting Wells Fargo to suspend all travel to China earlier this month. 

The Wells Fargo banker has reportedly been blocked from leaving China over her alleged link to a criminal investigation. How long she will be required to stay in China remains unclear. 

Neither the Commerce Department nor Wells Fargo immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s questions regarding this report. 

Un simple corcho puede marcar la diferencia entre una planta opaca y una que florece con vigor. Con el auge de las prácticas sustentables, los corchos de botellas pasaron de la basura al centro de atención de la jardinería doméstica. Más allá de cualquier función decorativa, este recurso natural suma ventajas concretas para quienes buscan mejorar la salud de sus plantas y mantener un patio equilibrado. Incorporar corchos al sustrato de macetas representa una manera ingeniosa, económica y ecológica de transformar el hábitat de las raíces, facilitar el drenaje y alejar plagas.

El corcho, corteza del alcornoque típico de los bosques del Mediterráneo, actúa como un verdadero regulador en el entorno de la maceta. Según especialistas, citados por Economía Sustentable, en la jardinería urbana, los corchos naturales promueven un ambiente estable dentro del sustrato. Contribuyen a mantener la humedad necesaria para el desarrollo de la planta y previenen desequilibrios provocados por el exceso de agua tras lluvias o riegos. Así, alivian el riesgo de pudrición de las raíces y minimizan episodios de sequía brusca en especies sensibles.

Su estructura porosa permite el paso del aire entre las partículas del sustrato. Esta microventilación favorece la oxigenación de la tierra, lo cual se traduce en raíces más sanas y en un crecimiento vegetal más robusto. Según consignó Tringle Gardener, esta capacidad de oxigenar y airear el interior de las macetas marca la diferencia, en especial en plantas de interior o macetas pequeñas donde la compactación del sustrato puede presentarse como un problema frecuente.

Además de regular la humedad y facilitar la ventilación, el corcho muestra un efecto relevante en el manejo de plagas habituales del sustrato. Cuando se ubica en la superficie en trozos grandes o triturados, protege contra la aparición de insectos y pequeños moluscos que prosperan en ambientes húmedos, como los mosquitos del compost o ciertas babosas. Así, el corcho funciona como barrera natural, evitando que las plagas invadan las plantas y dificultando el acceso de los insectos a la base de los tallos.

El procedimiento para sumar corchos a las macetas no requiere experiencia previa. La técnica más sencilla consiste en colocar los corchos enteros o trozados en la base de la maceta antes de agregar el sustrato. De acuerdo con el portal Planfor, resulta crucial asegurar que la maceta tenga agujeros en el fondo. Los corchos crean una capa de drenaje que permite evacuar el exceso de agua hacia los agujeros, lo que previene encharcamientos y asfixia radicular.

Otra opción consiste en triturar los corchos y mezclarlos directamente con la tierra. Esta alternativa resulta útil para oxigenar de forma pareja todo el sustrato. Los pequeños fragmentos se distribuyen entre las raíces y facilitan el paso del aire, mientras ayudan a conservar la humedad de modo gradual. En ambos casos, el corcho cumple una doble función: ayuda en el drenaje y sostiene el equilibrio hídrico necesario para el bienestar de las plantas.

El método sirve también sobre la superficie del sustrato, donde corchos enteros o en trozos actúan como una cubierta protectora ante plagas. Bastan algunos minutos para esparcirlos sobre la tierra. Esta cubierta dificulta el acceso de insectos y moluscos, y, en climas calurosos, ayuda a que el agua no se evapore con rapidez. Con este recurso, las plantas resisten mejor los cambios de temperatura y la exposición a la luz directa.

Optimizar la vida de las plantas no se limita solo al uso de corchos. El drenaje adecuado del sustrato es clave para conseguir un crecimiento saludable y evitar problemas como la pudrición de raíces o el encostramiento superficial. Antes de agregar el sustrato, conviene formar una capa en el fondo de la maceta con materiales porosos como grava o trozos de cerámica rota, que cumplen una función complementaria a los corchos al asegurar que el agua fluya sin obstáculos.

Utilizar sustratos específicos para cada tipo de planta constituye otro recurso valioso. Existen tierras formuladas para rosas, cítricos o plantas con flores, ideales para responder a las diferentes necesidades de las especies cultivadas. Si se elige mezclar la tierra de manera casera, incrementa la posibilidad de controlar la textura y evitar que el suelo se compacte.

También se recomienda reemplazar periódicamente la capa de drenaje ubicada en el fondo de las macetas, ya que con el paso del tiempo puede apelmazarse y perder su eficacia. La renovación garantiza un flujo constante de agua y la aireación necesaria para las raíces. En cada ciclo de trasplante, un repaso minucioso asegura que la maceta no arrastre problemas previos y se mantenga lista para albergar nuevas especies o renovaciones estacionales.

Reciclar corchos ayuda no solo a reducir residuos, sino también a aprovechar sus propiedades orgánicas para crear un entorno más amigable y seguro para las plantas del hogar. En el mundo de la jardinería, la sencillez de este material representa una forma de evolución, sustentabilidad y mejora concreta para el bienestar del jardín y del planeta.