"Don't muck it up" : Massie urges Senate to pass Epstein bill as House vote looms

"But in a shock reversal - and rare defeat from his oft-loyal base - the president called this week for House Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files, saying "it's time to move on from this Democrat Hoax." Trump's switch-up undercut months of work House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had done that, intentionally or not, delayed the discharge petition from reaching the floor. Driving the news: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene(R-Ga.), who said Trump severed ties with her over her support for the Epstein vote, predicted a unanimous vote in the House during Tuesday's press conference alongside Massie, Rep. Khanna (D-Calif.) and several Epstein survivors."

""But the fight, the real fight, will happen after that," she said, adding, "the real test will be, will the Department of Justice release the files, or will it all remain tied up in investigations?" Zoom out: Massie appealed directly to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has been noncommittal on the measure: "It's up to him. He needs to bring this to the floor of the Senate. And I think the vote today will show that." Khanna seconded that, pointing to Trump's surprise pledge to sign the bill. There is "no reason for the Senate" to "muck around with it," he said."

"Jena-Lisa Jones, a survivor, implored the president to "stop making this political," citing his demand for the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's connections to former President Bill Clinton and others. Trump's directive followed the release of a batch of emails from Epstein's estate that showed the disgraced financier conversing with several prominent individuals and suggested Trump knew about Epstein's conduct."

President Trump unexpectedly urged House Republicans to vote to release Jeffrey Epstein files, calling it "time to move on from this Democrat Hoax." His reversal undermined efforts by House Speaker Mike Johnson that delayed a discharge petition. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene predicted a unanimous House vote and warned the real fight would be whether the Justice Department would release the files or keep them tied up in investigations. Representative Thomas Massie appealed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune to bring the measure to the Senate floor. Representative Ro Khanna noted Trump’s pledge to sign the bill. Survivors criticized politicization and cited newly released Epstein emails.

Read at Axios