(WASHINGTON) — Another week, another stalemate in the House of Representatives over releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The GOP-led Rules Committee — which was working on advancing a slate of unrelated bills — came to a halt Monday evening because Democrats announced their plan to force a committee vote on bipartisan legislation that would call for the release of the Epstein files.
Republicans on the panel decided to recess the meeting with lawmakers saying there were no plans to reconvene at all.
Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said Monday he and the other Republicans on the committee did not want to vote on Democrats’ Epstein amendments, calling the effort “grandstanding.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters it was “unlikely” the committee would meet this week at all.
This means that House Republicans will not hold votes this week on several key measures, including an immigration bill and legislation to establish new ZIP codes, because Democrats on the panel continue to force tough votes over releasing the Epstein files.
With the House floor paralyzed, House GOP leaders announced on Tuesday that the chamber is leaving for August recess earlier than expected. Republicans scrapped votes for Thursday with final votes now slated for Wednesday afternoon.
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