Speaker Mike Johnson has decided not to bring a non-binding resolution concerning the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents to the House floor this week, ahead of the August recess. This decision comes as the House GOP grapples with internal chaos and external pressures related to the Epstein case.

Instead of rushing the vote, GOP leaders, in agreement with White House officials, have chosen to delay discussions until after the recess. This strategy aims to allow the administration more time to voluntarily release the documents, following President Donald Trump’s directive to unseal grand jury information tied to Epstein.

The decision to hold off on the resolution, which was originally drafted to provide GOP members a political shield against Democratic criticisms, coincides with a surge in efforts led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). These lawmakers are pushing for a more forceful legislative action through a discharge petition, which is rapidly gaining support and could force a vote bypassing traditional leadership channels.

This development occurred shortly after Trump announced his intention to have Attorney General Pam Bondi initiate the unsealing of grand jury testimonies, a move that followed allegations from a Wall Street Journal report claiming Trump had previously sent Epstein a controversial letter. Trump has denied the letter's authenticity and is suing the publication for defamation, seeking billions in damages.

When pressed by journalists about the potential floor vote, Speaker Johnson remained non-committal but emphasized the alignment between House Republicans and Trump on the issue of transparency. Meanwhile, support grows among GOP members for the Massie-Khanna resolution to be brought to a vote immediately.

Adding to the political drama, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a signatory of the discharge petition, publicly criticized President Trump for not fulfilling his transparency promises made during the 2024 campaign. She warned that without further disclosures on the Epstein case, Trump might lose support from his base.

As the House GOP leadership plans to use the August recess to strategize, the White House has yet to formally respond to the unfolding situation. The delay is seen as a strategic move to manage the political fallout and align future actions with the administration’s handling of the sensitive documents.

Contributions to this report were made by Mia McCarthy.