House Republican leaders have canceled Thursday’s legislative session, deciding instead to recess after wrapping up business on Wednesday, according to Axios.
The House was originally scheduled to wrap up business on Thursday before heading out for a five-week August recess. But following eruptions within the GOP over how to handle the Epstein documents—and Massie’s discharge petition—leadership decided to flee town a day early, canceling Thursday’s session entirely. The chamber is not expected to return until September.
According to Axios, Massie’s petition now has over 10 Republican signatures—enough to bypass the Speaker and bring the measure to a vote.
It can be recalled that Massie joined forces with Rep. Ro Khanna (D‑Calif.) on a discharge petition aimed at compelling a full House vote on releasing classified Jeffrey Epstein files.
“If the executive branch won’t release phase 2 of the Epstein files, we will. Americans deserve transparency and the victims deserve justice,” Massie wrote on X.
Author and commentator Mike Cernovich blasted the move: “Why didn’t he do this during Biden’s regime? Total stunt queen with deep resentment for Trump—and he’s insulting your intelligence.”
Why didn’t he do this during Biden’s regime?
Total stunt queen with deep resentment for Trump and he’s insulting your intelligence. https://t.co/CzMTDb3mEH
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 22, 2025
Johnson reportedly canceled Rules Committee votes and shelved plans to move forward on major GOP legislation—including key immigration and energy bills. Instead, only low-priority noncontroversial measures made it to the floor before the early recess.
Speaker Johnson insisted Monday night, “We have lots of work with appropriations and committees doing very important stuff.”
But by Tuesday morning, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) quietly noticed the schedule change—effectively pulling the plug on the week.
Axios reported:
The House is leaving Washington a day early for it’s five-week August recess after tensions erupted over efforts to force release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Why it matters: Fallout from the debate over the Epstein files has effectively frozen House business. Leadership opted to cut the week short and leave town before things escalate further.
The final House votes before September are now scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
[…]
Johnson said at a press conference Tuesday that Republicans were “done being lectured about transparency” and that he would not allow Democrats to “continue with their nonsense this week.”
On the same day, House Speaker Mike Johnson tore into Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), accusing him of sabotaging GOP unity and standing in the way of transparency.
According to Punchbowl News:
Mike Johnson: “I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works…. I don’t know what he’s what he’s thinking.
“Thomas Massie could have brought his discharge petition anytime over the last four and a half years, over the last four years of Biden administration. He could have done that at any time, and now he’s clamoring as if there’s some sort of timeline on it.
“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. So do I have some concern about that I do, but you know in me and my way I try to I try to follow Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: never speak evil of another Republican.
“My gosh, it’s hard to do sometimes right here. 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, okay, I don’t know. what else to say about it.”
>@SpeakerJohnson on @RepThomasMassie:
“I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works…. I don’t know what he’s what he’s thinking.
“Thomas Massie could have brought his discharge petition anytime over the last four and a half…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 22, 2025
The post House Flees D.C. a Day Early, Won’t Return Until September Amid Epstein File Release — Speaker Johnson BLASTS Rep. Massie for Sitting on Discharge Petition for FOUR YEARS: “I Don’t Understand His Motivation!” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.