The Brian Lehrer Show The House Shuts Down Early Avoiding Epstein Drama
Jul 24, 2025
Annie Karni, a New York Times congressional correspondent and co-author of *Mad House*, dives into the recent turmoil in Congress linked to the Epstein affair. She discusses the political gymnastics that led to an early House recess to evade controversial votes. The fallout reveals rifts among Republicans, with MAGA voters demanding transparency and a hardline member pushing for file releases. Karni also highlights the strategic shifts Democrats are making to capitalize on the scandal while navigating their own endorsement dilemmas.
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Epstein Files Stir GOP Pressure
- The Epstein files issue has become a rare moment of sustained pressure on Republicans from their voters.
- Members of Congress are overwhelmed with calls and social media posts demanding the release of Epstein-related materials.
Republican Massey's Principled Opposition
- Thomas Massey is a rare Republican with strong principles willing to challenge leadership.
- He has enough votes with Democrats to force a House vote on releasing Epstein files in September.
Speaker Johnson Shifts on Transparency
- Speaker Mike Johnson initially supported transparency but reversed to align with Trump’s messaging.
- He now favors letting the Justice Department handle the files release without further pressure.
