Johnson claims Massie is using a political tactic in the fight for Epstein transparency.

Johnson Critiques Massey Over Epstein Investigation

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) intensified his criticism of Representative Thomas Massey on Tuesday, discussing the implications of the Jeffrey Epstein case for Congress.

“What Thomas Massey says is meaningless in relation to this issue—it explains virtually everything,” Johnson remarked to reporters, making it clear his comments were pointed at the Kentucky Republican.

This exchange happened shortly before Massey proposed measures aimed at circumventing Johnson to initiate a vote on legislation requiring the release of various Department of Justice (DOJ) records linked to Epstein. Concurrently, Johnson backed a resolution enabling the House Oversight Committee to further investigate the matter.

Massey, along with California’s Rep. Ro Khanna, is spearheading a discharge petition—an uncommon maneuver that allows lawmakers to bypass leadership if enough lawmakers show their support.

Next Steps in Epstein Case Investigation

Massey expressed optimism about gathering sufficient signatures for the petition by the end of the week, stating, “I think there’s a really good opportunity for that.” As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had garnered just two signatures: Massey and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).

In response to Johnson’s statements, Massey dismissed the Speaker’s resolution as a “placebo resolution.” He went on, “He copied three pages from my resolution, which means we wrote this from scratch. It seems he’s afraid of President Donald Trump.” Massey’s remarks suggest a deeper concern about political calculations at play.

Meanwhile, the DOJ is beginning to provide numerous files to the oversight committee under bipartisan subpoena, though some redactions are anticipated. Johnson maintained that his approach strives to balance the need for transparency with the privacy rights of Epstein’s victims.

He told reporters, “I will not be stalled much by what Thomas Massey is saying,” stressing that House Republicans are committed to advocating for maximal disclosure of the Epstein files while still protecting innocent individuals involved.

Massie and Khanna plan to hold a press conference with several of Epstein’s victims on Wednesday to further promote their resolution. These victims had recently met with Johnson and members of the oversight committee.