In a tactical move ahead of Thursday’s Appropriations subpanel markup, House Democrats are set to challenge their Republican counterparts with a series of amendments concerning the controversial Jeffrey Epstein case. This strategy aims to expose divisions within the Republican ranks, particularly those influenced by the MAGA base, according to two senior Democratic aides who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The issue surrounding Epstein has already disrupted the House floor schedule extensively, compelling Speaker Mike Johnson to adjourn the session early, initiating the five-week summer recess sooner than planned. The Democrats previously attempted to spotlight the issue both in the Rules Committee and during floor sessions, meeting with mixed reactions among the GOP members.

The upcoming subcommittee meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday is expected to be a continuation of this strategy. Despite the abrupt changes to the House floor's schedule just a day prior, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma confirmed that the subcommittee would meet as scheduled. “There are no changes to our schedule,” Cole stated on Wednesday morning, adding that he would keep the committee informed of any updates. “Honestly, I want to see how things go today,” he remarked.

The Democrats' persistence in bringing up Epstein-related amendments could force Republicans to publicly declare their stance on sensitive issues, including demands for the release of more information regarding the Epstein case. This could potentially reignite controversies that GOP leaders have been trying to suppress, especially if they aim to pass subsequent bills in the floor sessions in the coming months.

The strategic early adjournment by the House was partly to diminish the momentum of the Epstein narrative in Capitol Hill circles. However, as Thursday’s markup approaches, Republicans may find themselves entangled once again in a contentious debate that they hoped to avoid.

Additionally, Chair Tom Cole expressed disappointment over not achieving his goal of getting all 12 House spending bills on the floor before the August recess. He attributed this delay to setbacks caused by the extensive GOP tax and domestic policy bill, noting that canceling a full committee markup now would only further derail their legislative agenda.

As tensions mount and strategic plans unfold, the outcome of Thursday’s markup could significantly influence the legislative landscape, setting a precedent for how controversial issues are handled in sessions to come.