House Republicans on the Rules Committee have voted down a Democratic amendment to advance a bipartisan bill calling for the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Instead, they have introduced their own non-binding resolution on the matter, which will not receive an immediate floor vote. This move comes amid growing pressure from constituents to increase transparency around the Epstein case and to address Democratic criticisms while navigating the deadline for Trump’s $9 billion rescission package.
The House GOP conference is under increasing scrutiny to provide more clarity on the Epstein matter, leading Republicans to devise this measure as a way to respond to this pressure, while also countering Democratic attacks over the Epstein case. The resolution, which aims to protect victim privacy by not compelling the immediate unsealing of materials, is part of the broader effort to break an impasse over advancing Trump’s rescission package before a Friday deadline.
Republicans on the Rules Committee plan to report out two rules Thursday night. The first will advance the rescission package, which, once approved on the House floor, will effectively clear it for final passage without requiring a second vote. The second rule will include the non-binding resolution calling for the release of Epstein’s documents, which Democrats continue to push for a vote on. The resolution is not expected to receive an immediate floor vote, as it is more of a symbolic gesture rather than a binding legislative action. Meanwhile, Trump has posted on Truth Social calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to court approval, adding another layer of political pressure to the situation.
As the Rules Committee was meeting, Trump’s public engagement highlighted the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the Epstein case. Democrats continue to press for a vote on the bipartisan resolution from Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), which would make the materials public. This bipartisan effort to ensure transparency underscores the high stakes and the competing interests at play in the case, with Republicans trying to balance political pressure with the need to address legal and ethical concerns.