Attempts to Control the Epstein Crisis: Congress Ends Session

Trump allies are scrambling to control the escalating crisis surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a surprising move, House Speaker Mike Johnson ended the congressional session early, preventing a vote on the release of related documents.

The House was scheduled to begin a five-week recess on Wednesday, but it was moved forward by a day, and the House is not expected to reconvene before September. Johnson justified his decision by accusing Democrats of "playing politics" by attempting to force a vote to compel the Justice Department to release documents related to the life and death of former financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Johnson described the Epstein case as a "political weapon," adding, "We're not going to let them do that again."

Calls for Transparency from Within the Republican Party

However, several House Republicans have also called for the release of the so-called "Epstein files," with some of the most outspoken figures in the Trump "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) camp demanding greater transparency. "The public is not going to let this go unanswered, and rightfully so," said South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman.

When asked if the White House supported Johnson's decision, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday, "I'm not sure if anyone here has spoken to the speaker about this."

Claims of No Conclusive Evidence

During his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to release these documents. However, a memo released this month by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated that there was no "credible evidence" that Epstein "blackmailed prominent figures," and that the so-called "client list" does not exist.

This has sparked calls from some members of the MAGA movement to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi, as well as questions about whether FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino will remain in their positions.

Media Coverage Intensifies Tensions

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump referred to "secrets" in his 2003 birthday greetings to Epstein and attached a vulgar drawing, further escalating tensions. Trump described the report as "false, malicious, and defamatory" and has sued the newspaper and its owner Rupert Murdoch.

Justice Department Seeks Information from Maxwell

Amid public anger over the government's handling of the Epstein documents, a senior Justice Department official said Tuesday that he would meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, an accused co-conspirator in the Epstein case, to obtain potential evidence. Maxwell was convicted of helping to lure young girls to be abused by the late pedophile.

"If Maxwell has any information about people who committed crimes against the victims, the FBI and the Justice Department will listen to her," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. He added that Maxwell's attorney (she is serving a 20-year sentence) has been contacted and plans to meet with her "soon."

The House Oversight Committee also voted on Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell to provide information about Epstein's activities.

These moves come after Trump said last week that the Justice Department should release "credible" evidence related to the Epstein case. The Justice Department subsequently filed a motion to release grand jury testimony in the Epstein and Maxwell cases.

According to a court filing, Maxwell's lawyers said on Tuesday that they had discussed the request to release the testimony with Blanche.

In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly expressed displeasure with public attention to the case. But when asked Tuesday about Blanche's intervention, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: "I don't know they're doing that. I'm not paying much attention to it... It's a political persecution, just a continuation of the persecution."