Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself at the center of a political whirlwind as he attempts to soothe restless Republicans eager for transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal while simultaneously aiding President Donald Trump by adjourning the House early for summer recess. During a tense private meeting with House Republicans on Tuesday, Johnson urged unity, emphasizing the need for patience as the administration works to disclose documents without compromising the identities of Epstein’s victims.

However, patience wears thin among GOP members. At an Oversight subcommittee hearing on the same day, Republicans moved to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's alleged accomplice, signaling a strong push for clarity and transparency. Oversight Chair James Comer, after the vote, revealed that he had previously cautioned the GOP leadership about the committee's leanings towards openness. He confirmed plans for his team to interview Maxwell in prison once terms are arranged with her legal representatives.

This ongoing saga has inadvertently provided Democrats with ammunition against the Trump administration. Journalist Rachael Bade highlighted in her recent column how Democrats have revitalized their strategy, effectively using the Epstein controversy to challenge the administration and deepen the divisions within the Republican party.

The issue is set to stay in the political spotlight, with a bipartisan bill sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) poised to demand the release of further documents when Congress resumes in September. This suggests that the Epstein topic will remain a hot-button issue, even as lawmakers head into the August recess.

Massie expressed skepticism about the recess diminishing the momentum, hinting that the issue might only grow more potent with time. “The Epstein issue has contributed to their desire to just get us out of town because they hope that the energy will dissipate,” he stated. “I doubt that’s the case.”

What else we’re watching:

— Dems’ appropriations strategy: As Senate progresses with appropriations bills, Democrats convened on Tuesday to strategize ahead of the looming government shutdown in September. Emerging without explicit demands, they urged Republicans to engage in earnest negotiations.

— Senate’s take on the CLARITY Act: Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) alongside Senators Cynthia Lummis, Bill Hagerty, and Bernie Moreno released draft legislation aimed at revamping the structure of the digital asset market. This proposal is the Senate's counterpart to the House’s CLARITY Act, which seeks to clarify the regulatory roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in digital asset markets.

— More funding clawbacks: Conversations are underway between Republican leaders and the White House regarding a second rescissions package, following last week’s push. This package targets funding cuts within the Education Department, with specifics still under wraps as discussions continue.

*Contributors to this report include Meredith Lee Hill, Hailey Fuchs, Jasper Goodman, Juan Perez Jr., and Eli Stokols.*