GOP support erodes for Epstein files petition

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is defying House Speaker Mike Johnson's warnings and pressing forward with his discharge petition to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein records, even as some of his initial Republican backers are fading away.Why it matters: Just days ago, the discharge petition's success almost looked inevitable. But Republican leadership, White House pressure, and the release of Epstein-related files from the House Oversight Committee have blunted the petition's momentum.Johnson (R-La.) has urged his Republican members to steer clear of the petition, arguing that Oversight's probe will ultimately yield more information. "It goes further and it has the force of law, because we have subpoena authorities. It makes the discharge irrelevant and unnecessary," Johnson said Wednesday of Oversight's probe. Massie remains defiant, vowing he'll secure the 218 signatures needed to trigger a floor vote. The petition currently has 215 signatures.Driving the news: Massie formally filed the petition Tuesday, only for the Oversight Committee to release troves of Epstein-related files the same day.Several Republicans who had backed Massie's underlying bill quickly reversed course, saying the release undercut the need for a petition.Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told Axios on Wednesday she doesn't plan on signing it, calling the fight "a personal rift between Massie and the president."Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who also won't be signing the petition, dismissed Massie's efforts as "a back handed slap to the president." Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) also signaled they won't be supporting the measure. They were both cosponsors to the underlying bill. What they're saying: Johnson predicted Thursday that Massie will fail to secure the remaining GOP signatures he needs to force a vote.Massie shot back, telling reporters, "I'll bet anybody here dollars to donuts, we're going to get to 218." He wouldn't speculate who he thinks will sign the petition. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Indiana), who attended Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna's (D-Calif.) press conference with Epstein's victims Wednesday, told Axios she's undecided about signing.The intrigue: White House officials are lobbying Republicans not to sign, making phone calls to GOP lawmakers. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who is one of four Republicans that have signed the petition, said she got "a lot of pushback" from the administration about her support. "What's not true, is [Comer's] investigation is not going to reveal the same sort of things that our discharge petition would reveal. If that were true, the White House wouldn't be working so hard to stop it." Massie said.Zoom out: Even if Massie and Khanna's efforts are successful in the House, the bill would need Senate passage and the president's signature. Trump is widely expected to veto the measure if it ever reached his desk.Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) threw also cold water on the efforts, telling reporters today that there are no plans for the Senate to vote on the legislation.Still, the discharge petition will put every member on record about the files, and the MAGA base won't be happy with Republicans who vote against it.

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