'The rule was going down': Inside the House GOP's Epstein meltdown
Inside his cavernous office on Monday afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson was facing a growing crisis. The House GOP conference, which included some of the Louisiana Republican's key allies, was in full rebellion over the spiraling Jeffrey Epstein situation.
Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and panel member Erin Houchin of Indiana informed House leaders that Republicans on the panel would not advance any rule for the week — the prerequisite for the chamber to fully function — without a better solution to the Epstein problem, according to two people with direct knowledge of the conversation.
The lawmakers knew that bucking their own leadership was an extreme response. But panel Republicans were incensed that a week earlier, they were all but forced to vote against a Democratic effort calling for the release of Epstein-related information. Many, including Houchin, were under intense pressure from constituents to support the unsealing, and they wanted leaders to provide more political cover.
Hours later, Johnson and senior Republicans decided to shut down the Rules Committee altogether, which meant forgoing votes on two key immigration bills before lawmakers left for the month-long August recess. After some back and forth, leaders also scrapped votes scheduled for Thursday and sent members home a day early. The speaker later defended his strategy, saying House Republicans were refusing to play Democrats’ “political games” over the deceased financier and convicted sex offender.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/inside-house-gop-rebellion-over-084500879.html
Moses Johnson will do anything for his Lard and Savior Donald Trump.