House Republicans Call Early Christmas Break Before Epstein Files Release

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 18, 2025 at 04:07 AM EST updated Dec 18, 2025 at 06:10 AM EST


Republicans in the House have brought their Christmas recess a day forward—before the Department of Justice (DOJ) is scheduled to release a tranche of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to a floor update released by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the House will hold its final votes on Thursday afternoon, a change from the GOP’s previously announced schedule which would have seen these taking place on Friday.

Under the guidelines of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 19, Attorney General Pam Bondi had a 30-day deadline to make publicly available all unclassified materials related to Epstein. Newsweek has contacted the DOJ through its website and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's D.C. office by phone outside of regular hours for comment.

Why It Matters

There is no evidence that the early recess stems from a desire to interfere with the release of the files, or an indication that the DOJ’s deadline could be affected by the altered schedule. However, many online commentators, as well as some Democratic lawmakers, have connected the decision with GOP leadership’s past reluctance to pursue full disclosure around the Epstein case.

What To Know

According to the text of the Epstein bill, Bondi had until Friday to release all materials in the possession of the DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices relating to investigations into Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as information on travel records, individuals with ties to the pair and his death in 2019. Redactions are allowed, however, to protect the identity of victims and prevent disruption to any active investigations or prosecutions, provided these are accompanied by written justifications.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/house-republicans-call-early-christmas-break-before-epstein-files-release-11234307

[riversedge]

1. In any case--lawmakers -when out of DC will probably have less scrutiny and be confronted

only by local reporters--which, for the most part, tend to be more favorable to them.

[Omnipresent]

2. Well why not an early Christmas break?

Hell, they work hard for a little over a month since late September!

[ananda]

3. Well, now that they've screwed the people over healthcare...

they can go home and celebrate with Republican Jesus.

[Bengus81]

4. And 75% of them are in Trumps red States...

Get ready next year for the "I wish I hadn't voted for him three times. I thought he was going after those criminal illegals,not MY affordable health care."

[BumRushDaShow]

7. A lof of them have ZERO idea that their "state exchanges" ARE the ACA ( "Obamacare" )

The state-run exchanges have their own unique names and went through an ACA approval process to exist.

I remember way back when some idiot in KY was quoted as angrily exclaiming that he "didn't want no 'Obamacare'" but "they better not mess with my 'kynect'" (which is Kentucky's exchange under the ACA).

[travelingthrulife]

16. We have to fix this problem. States need to ditch their cutesy names so people know they

are a federal agency and they know which one.

I know in Wisconsin it is BadgerCare. Many do not understand the programs they are cutting are the programs they use.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. PA's is called "Pennie"

which eventually came about under the-then governor Tom Wolf in 2019 (effective 2020) after almost a decade with no state-controlled marketplace when the ACA was passed under (R) governor Tom Corbett (and residents used the federal marketplaces).

Since that rolled out during the pandemic, I sort of missed all of that as I knew none of the GOP here wanted anything to do with the ACA, but enough of the GOP-controlled legislature finally went along with us doing the state marketplaces.

[SCantiGOP]

19. Like the famous shouts of a few years back:

“Keep the government out of my Medicare.”
Really hard to argue with anyone when that is their opening statement.

[mahina]

36. Same here

I’m worried about what’s gonna happen to all the people who are insured through the state and those whouse the clinics from Waimanalo to Waianae.

[Miguelito Loveless]

14. My experience so far

is the MAGAs are genetically incapable of such a statement.

Trump is NEVER wrong.

[lark]

5. Repugz are pure COWARDS!!!

[bluedigger]

6. Poor darlngs are utterly exhausted from legislating to help the American people.

Rest up, buttercups, a new year's a dawning.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Now if Johnson can keep them out until after the midterms.....

...it will serve the people by keeping them in office.

[2naSalit]

9. CHICKEN...

SHITZ!!

[Paladin]

10. Chickenshit trump whores. (nt)

[TBF]

11. Scattering like the rats that they are -

I wish someone would leak more of those files.

And I'm really not happy about increased medical insurance premiums - which I'm quite sure I'm not alone in that feeling.

[Clouds Passing]

12. Cowards run and hide

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. Hmmm, what's that saying about cockroaches and lights?

Oh yeah, shine a light and watch the cockroaches scatter and hide.

[Fil1957]

15. We knew they were going to do something to avoid or delay the release of the Epstein files, we just didn't know what it

would be.

Now we know.

I don't think it will help. This is and has been the most obvious coverup in U.S. history. I don't think it will work. They should just release the files, take the hit and move on.

The information will still come out, but in drips and drabs, which in the long run will cause the Trump Republicans more damage, than if they just released the files as soon as possible.

[travelingthrulife]

17. 'Taking the hit' means a whole lot of people going to jail, including Trump.

Pretty certain Trump was part of the business, along with Melania and Ivanna.

[FakeNoose]

35. They can't stop the Epstein files being released, but they don't want to be where the media can find them

That's why they're scattering now. My guess is that MOST of the Repukes aren't going home, because the reporters know how to find them there. They're taking off for vacations at remote beaches or for skiing, wherever they can't be found.

Weasel chickenshits, that's what they are.

On the other hand, watch how many Democrats face the press and the voters. They will bravely answer questions wherever they can.

[DrFunkenstein]

18. Related to Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director?

The GOP was running on the release of the Epstein files.

Now they are running FROM the release of the Epstein files.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

20. How many repubs will quit over the break?

The repubs are running away from everything now.
They think they can hide and voters will forget all about the destruction they have wrought.

But they are wrong (as usual).

They thought the Epstein story would die down during the shutdown.
Not so much they learned...

They think the ACA subsidies story will die down during their holiday break
but when they get back the premium increases will have hit and hit their voters the most.

They want to run away from a failing economy and destructive tarrifs
The damage they have done will become much clearer over the holiday break.

They want to run away from the fact that people from around the world no longer want to come to visit the USA
due to warnings of what could happen to them. Tourism has gone over the cliff.

They want to run from war and war crimes commited by their leader
This will also get much worse over their holiday break

As things get worse over the next few weeks I wonder just how many of these bootlicking repubs will actually choose to return to Washington to face the music?

If we are lucky, enough will chicken out or realize they're goose is cooked and quit over their break to give the Dems control of the house.

When that happens perhaps they will get a 3rd opportunity to convice and remove the felon in charge.

Maybe this time they will accept the help they desperately need.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. "How many repubs will quit over the break?"

One just announced yesterday - Dan Newhouse (R-WA). But that announcement was buried under an avalanche of Reiner and Brown University stories. He was one of the few (R)s who voted to impeach 45.

[purr-rat beauty]

22. Anti-American Welfare Queens

We PAY them to serve THE PEOPLE
Not PEDOPHILES
Fuck all of them

[MustLoveBeagles]

23. Cowards

[Vinca]

24. The GOP doesn't want to be around for the release of documents that are 99% redacted.

[IzzaNuDay]

25. Those craven ****** *******

Wonder how many of them are named in the Epstein files?

[WestMichRad]

27. Only Representatives (redacted),

(redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted), (redacted) and (redacted). Just a few of them!

[usonian]

26. Expect a lot of cell phones to be turned off Friday. NT

[tavernier]

28. Booo!! Jacob Epstein appeared on the doorknocker

and the republicans scrambled under the bed, fearing the ghost of Christmas past!!!

[lostincalifornia]

29. And to insure there won't be extended ACA subsidies. Deplorable and

ethically challenged, but no surprise.

[Eugene]

30. a true profile in cowardice

absolute chickenshits!

[AllyCat]

31. Of course there is reason to believe this is an interference.

They are republicans. They have zero integrity are desire to follow the law.

[Rhiagel]

32. Slackers

They need to bolt the door shut until the end of the business day on Friday.

[duckworth969]

34. Venezuelan land strikes in...

3…2…1…

BOOM!

(epstein files? wat’s dat?)