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‘Not going away’: Inside the Epstein drama that’s thrown House GOP into chaos
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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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Speaker Mike Johnson is urging House Republicans to let the Trump administration do its work on the Epstein case while accusing Democrats of politicizing it. (Getty Images)
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.
FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP
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.
148 DEMOCRATS BACK NONCITIZEN VOTING IN DC AS GOP RAISES ALARM ABOUT FOREIGN AGENTS
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.»
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A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that California’s first-of-its-kind law requiring gun owners to undergo background checks to purchase ammunition is unconstitutional, declaring that it violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court judge’s permanent injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law.
Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta said the law «meaningfully constrains» the right to keep and bear arms and that the state failed to prove the law was consistent with the country’s historical tradition of firearm regulation as required under a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
«By subjecting Californians to background checks for all ammunition purchases, California’s ammunition background check regime infringes on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms,» Ikuta wrote.
CALIFORNIA JUDGE BLACKS GUN CONTROL LAW REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AMMO PURCHASES
A federal appeals court ruled that California’s law requiring gun owners to undergo background checks to purchase ammunition is unconstitutional. (Getty Images)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said the ruling was a «slap in the face» to efforts by officials in the Golden State to enact firearm restrictions to curb gun violence.
«Strong gun laws save lives – and today’s decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence,» Newsom said in a statement. «Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter.»
The office of state Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said «our families, schools, and neighborhoods deserve nothing less than the most basic protection against preventable gun violence, and we are looking into our legal options.»
California voters approved a ballot measure in 2016 requiring gun owners to undergo initial background checks to purchase ammunition, as well as buy four-year ammunition permits.
Lawmakers later amended the measure to require background checks for each ammunition purchase.
California officials said they received 191 reports last year of «armed and prohibited individuals» who were blocked through background checks from purchasing ammunition.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court judge’s permanent injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law. (REUTERS/Bing Guan)
The state can ask an 11-judge appeals court panel or the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision.
The plaintiffs included Kim Rhode, who has won three Olympic gold medals in shooting events, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association.
The gun group’s president and general counsel said in a joint statement that the decision was a victory against «overreaching government gun control,» while Rhode described it as «a big win for all gun owners in California.»
The injunction was issued by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego. An appeals court panel placed the injunction on hold while California’s appeal played out.
California argued that several old firearms restrictions supported background checks, including colonial-era rules requiring licenses to produce gunpowder, the disarmament around 1776 of people who refused to take «loyalty oaths» and late-19th century rules requiring government approval to carry concealed weapons.
‘EXCESSIVE’ STATE TAXES ON GUNS, AMMUNITION SALES ARE TARGET OF NEW GOP CRACKDOWN EFFORT
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling was a «slap in the face» to efforts by officials in the Golden State to curb gun violence. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
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Circuit Judge Jay Bybee, who dissented from Thursday’s decision, accused the majority of ignoring Supreme Court guidance by effectively declaring any limits on ammunition sales unlawful, given the unlikelihood a state could point to identical historical analogues.
The law «is not the kind of heavy-handed regulation that meaningfully constrains the right to keep and bear arms,» Bybee wrote.
All three judges on Thursday’s panel were appointed by Republican presidents, although appointees of Democratic presidents hold a majority in the 9th Circuit.
Ikuta and Bybee were appointed by former President George W. Bush, while Circuit Judge Bridget Bade, who joined Thursday’s majority, was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Reuters contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Tailandia advirtió que los enfrentamientos armados con Camboya podrían derivar en una guerra “a gran escala”
Tailandia advirtió este viernes que los enfrentamientos armados con Camboya podrían escalar a una guerra a gran escala, en el segundo día consecutivo de hostilidades que ha dejado al menos 16 muertos y obligado a evacuar a más de 138.000 personas en ambos lados de la frontera.
“Si la situación se agrava podría derivar en una guerra, aunque por ahora sigue limitada a enfrentamientos”, declaró el primer ministro interino tailandés, Phumtham Wechayachai, ante la prensa en Bangkok.
La tensión se disparó el jueves debido a una disputa territorial de décadas entre los dos países del sudeste asiático, con combates que incluyeron el uso de tanques, aviones de combate, artillería y cohetes BM-21.
Se trata de la escalada militar más grave desde 2011 en una zona de 800 kilómetros de frontera, donde persisten áreas no delimitadas oficialmente, salpicadas de templos antiguos.
Según el Ministerio del Interior tailandés, las autoridades evacuaron a 138.000 civiles, incluidos 428 pacientes hospitalarios, desde cuatro provincias limítrofes con Camboya.
El balance oficial en Tailandia ascendió a 15 muertos —un soldado y 14 civiles— y 46 heridos. Por su parte, Camboya reportó un muerto y cinco heridos, en su primer informe oficial desde el inicio del conflicto.
Los enfrentamientos se reanudaron en la madrugada del viernes en tres puntos distintos, de acuerdo con el ejército tailandés. Según su versión, las fuerzas camboyanas lanzaron fuego con armas pesadas, artillería y cohetes múltiples, a lo que las tropas tailandesas respondieron con “fuego de apoyo apropiado”. El ejército agregó que los choques incluyeron seis zonas de combate el jueves, entre ellas dos antiguos templos.
En el municipio camboyano de Samraong, a 20 kilómetros de la frontera, periodistas de la agencia AFP registraron disparos lejanos de artillería durante la mañana. “Vivo muy cerca de la frontera. Tenemos miedo porque empezaron a disparar de nuevo sobre las 6 de la madrugada”, relató Pro Bak, un residente de 41 años que huía con su familia hacia un templo budista. “No sé cuándo podremos volver a casa”, añadió.
La crisis diplomática también se agravó. Tailandia expulsó al embajador camboyano y llamó a consultas a su representante en Phnom Penh, luego de que una mina terrestre hiriera a cinco soldados tailandeses. Camboya respondió retirando a todos sus diplomáticos en Bangkok, excepto uno, y degradando las relaciones al nivel más bajo.
El Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU se reunirá de urgencia y a puerta cerrada este viernes, tras una solicitud del primer ministro camboyano, Hun Manet.
En paralelo, Estados Unidos y Francia instaron al cese inmediato de las hostilidades, mientras que la Unión Europea y China expresaron una profunda preocupación y pidieron diálogo entre las partes.
Desde 2008 hasta 2011, los dos países ya libraron enfrentamientos en la zona, que dejaron 28 muertos y decenas de miles de desplazados. Una decisión de la Corte Internacional de Justicia en favor de Camboya calmó las tensiones durante una década. Sin embargo, la situación volvió a deteriorarse en mayo de este año, tras la muerte de un soldado camboyano en un nuevo choque fronterizo.
Los combates actuales reflejan la fragilidad de la paz en la región y han despertado la preocupación de la Asociación de Naciones del Sudeste Asiático (ASEAN).
El primer ministro de Malasia, Anwar Ibrahim, quien ocupa la presidencia rotativa del bloque, declaró haber hablado con sus homólogos de Camboya y Tailandia, a quienes pidió diálogo inmediato. Según dijo, ambos mostraron “señales positivas y predisposición” a buscar una salida pacífica.
(Con información de AFP)
Asia / Pacific,Defense,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,SINGAPORE
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With the 2026 midterm elections more than a year away, a new Fox News survey finds that while the Republican Party has lost some ground to the Democratic Party on handling key issues, voters are more likely to think the GOP has a clear plan for dealing with the country’s problems.
The survey, released Thursday, finds that by a 10-point margin, more voters think the Republicans have a clear plan for the U.S. than the Democrats: 43% vs. 33%. Still, majorities feel neither the GOP (54%) or the Democrats (64%) have a plan. This is about where sentiment was three years ago, the last time the question was asked.
FOX NEWS POLL: TRUMP FACING HEADWINDS AT SIX-MONTH MARK
Far more Republicans (79%) than Democrats (51%) are confident their party has a clear plan, and that’s what hurts the Democrats. While at least two-thirds of independents feel neither party has a plan, more trust the GOP (30% vs. 25%).
At the same time, the survey shows some significant erosion in the GOP’s handling of key issues compared to the last time Fox asked in 2023, including in areas where they are traditionally preferred.
Voters view the Republican Party as better able to handle national security (by 14 points), immigration (+6R), and government spending (+5R) while the Democratic Party is favored on climate change (by 23 points), health care (+19D), social security (+17D), education (+15D), and energy policies (+6D).
The parties are rated about equally on inflation (+1D), gun policy (even), the economy (+1R), and foreign policy (+3R).
Compared to 2023, support for the GOP is down on immigration by 4 points, national security by 6, government spending by 6, foreign policy by 9, and the economy by 14. Plus, the Republicans’ 12-point advantage on inflation has disappeared, as Democrats have a 1-point edge today.
While the Democrats have largely maintained support on their best issues, it’s noteworthy they saw a 12-point increase on education, as voters have been split on who would better handle the issue for the last few years.
FOX NEWS POLL: APPROVAL OF SCOTUS AT 5-YEAR HIGH, REBOUNDING FROM RECORD LOW IN 2024
These shifts can mostly be attributed to self-identified Democrats solidifying their preference for their own party’s handling of the issues, as well as independents lessening their support for Republicans or switching to Democrats.
Self-identified Republicans continue to express high levels of support for their party on the issues.
«Independents and even some Democrats had soured on President Biden and the Democratic Congress by 2023 and 2024, but they have shifted to the left a bit in 2025 in response to the policies of President Trump and the Republicans,» says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News survey with Democrat Chris Anderson. «An appreciable part of this is performance related. Without obvious economic and foreign policy victories, independents and soft Democrats could drift to the left, which could scramble the electoral dynamic heading into 2026.»
Overall, views of both major political parties are underwater. By 2 points, the Republican Party has a slightly better favorable rating (44% favorable) than the Democratic Party (42%), but more than half view both parties negatively (56% and 57% unfavorable, respectively). That’s relatively unchanged since April.
Positive views of the Republican Party have shown steady growth since October 2019, while the Democratic Party has been on a downward trajectory, reaching a record low in April (41% favorable).
The Republican Party enjoys more support among their party faithful (83% have a favorable view) than the Democratic Party (78% favorable). Seven in 10 independents have a negative view of both.
CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE
Conducted July 18-21, 2025, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,000 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (114) and cellphones (636) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (250). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.
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