{"id":2467414,"date":"2025-07-27T16:16:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T20:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-defends-decision-to-adjourn-house-rather-than-vote-on-epstein-petition\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T16:17:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T20:17:22","slug":"mike-johnson-defends-decision-to-adjourn-house-rather-than-vote-on-epstein-petition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-defends-decision-to-adjourn-house-rather-than-vote-on-epstein-petition\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Johnson defends decision to adjourn House rather than vote on Epstein petition"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-johnson-defends-decision-to-adjourn-house-rather-than-vote-on-epstein-petition%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2467414&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House speaker Mike Johnson defended his decision to adjourn the House early for the August recess instead of holding a vote on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-says-no-house-vote-on-epstein-file-release-before-recess\/\" title=\"... says no ... ... on ... file ... before ...\">bipartisan petition<\/a> to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Johnson explained that Democrats were attempting to use the House Rules Committee to push politically motivated votes on the issue, which he saw as a misuse of the committee&#8217;s purpose. Even though Johnson emphasized that House Republicans want all credible details about Epstein to be released while protecting innocent victims, he criticized the petition lead by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna as recklessly drafted. As Johnson did not bring the bill to the floor, Massie and Khanna resorted to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-push-for-vote-on-born-alive-bill\/\" title=\"... Republicans Push for ... on Born Alive Bill\">discharge petition<\/a> to force a vote, which will now take place after the recess. Massie has accused the Department of Justice of hiding behind <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >victim privacy concerns<\/a> to avoid releasing the full Epstein files.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mike Johnson defends decision to adjourn House rather than vote on Epstein petition<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2182060\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>House Speaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\">Mi<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ke Johnson<\/a> (R-LA) defended his decision to release the House for August recess early, over the fallout of the Trump administration&rsquo;s non-release of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-maricopa-county-delete-all-of-its-2020-election-results\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did Maricopa County Delete All Of Its 2020 Election Results?\">files related<\/a> to disgraced sex offender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson said it was necessary because Democrats were looking to force votes on releasing the Epstein files in the House Rules Committee. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Ro-Khanna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) introduced a bill to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3483347\/thomas-massie-doj-hiding-strawman-epstein-victims-files\/\">Massie says DOJ hiding behind &#8216;strawman&#8217; Epstein victims argument in refusal to release files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3483314\/rand-paul-comer-jill-biden-fauci-autopen-investigation\/\">Paul suggests Comer could scrutinize Jill Biden and Fauci in autopen investigation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3482634\/congress-heat-epstein-files-house-recess-town-halls\/\">House members face Epstein heat as they return home for August recess<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;So what we did do this week is end the chaos in the rules committee because the Democrats are trying to use this in a shameless manner for political purposes, quite obviously,&rdquo; Johnson said on NBC News&rsquo; <em>Meet the Press<\/em>. &ldquo;They hijacked the rules committee. And they tried to turn it into an Epstein hearing. That&rsquo;s not what the rules committee is about.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So that&rsquo;s why the floor vote ended on Wednesday instead of Thursday,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Johnson said that &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/House-Republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House Republicans<\/a> insist upon the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein in any way, but we are also insisting upon the protection of innocent victims,&rdquo; but said Republican leadership&rsquo;s&nbsp; concern was that &ldquo;the Massie and Khanna discharge petition is reckless in the way that it is drafted and presented.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Johnson refused to bring the bill to release the files to the floor for a vote, so Massie and Khanna had resorted to a discharge petition to force a vote. That vote will now come after the August congressional recess.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3478445\/epstein-files-paralyze-house-johnson-cancel-votes-recess\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>EPSTEIN FILES PARALYZE THE HOUSE, FORCING JOHNSON TO CANCEL VOTES AND START RECESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Massie has said that the Department of Justice is using concern over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-doj-hiding-behind-strawman-epstein-victims-argument-in-refusal-to-release-files-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Massie says ... behind \u2018strawman\u2019 ... ... argument in refusal to ... ... - Washington Examiner\">releasing victim information<\/a> as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3483347\/thomas-massie-doj-hiding-strawman-epstein-victims-files\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">cover for not releasing<\/a> the entirety of the files.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve redacted things before. We don&rsquo;t want to hurt the victims. We&rsquo;re doing this for the victims. I think it&rsquo;s just something that they&rsquo;re hiding behind,&rdquo; Massie said Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2182060\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2182060\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Johnson justifies adjourning House early amid Epstein file dispute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2467415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25006729537477.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[60045,60044,60046,34218,36160],"class_list":["post-2467414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-epstein-petition","tag-house-adjournment","tag-legislative-decision","tag-mike-johnson","tag-political-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/AP25006729537477.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2467414"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2467418,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2467414\/revisions\/2467418"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2467415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2467414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2467414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2467414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}