Massie uses rare floor privilege to blast House schedule, Johnson
Rep. Thomas Massie invoked a rare procedural privilege on the House floor to criticize Speaker Mike Johnson and the chamber's decision to cancel votes and adjourn early until November. Massie, who is not returning to Congress, argued he is a full participant and pushed for action on Epstein-related transparency and other issues. His discharge petition for an Epstein files bill is nearing the required signatures, though it still needs Republican support.
The chamber has scrapped at least 63 planned voting days this Congress, including nine in September alone. Leaders canceled Thursday's session after Johnson had already cut two weeks from the late-September calendar, sending members home to campaign. Massie's hour-long speech also renewed his push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Massie's discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II requires 218 signatures. If every Democrat signs, he needs one more Republican, yet only Massie, Mace, and Norman have signed—all of whom are departing Congress. His earlier Epstein files law, co-led with Ro Khanna, passed and became law last November.
This episode could sharpen public scrutiny of congressional work schedules, especially with midterms approaching. The discharge petition's near-success may pressure remaining Republicans to weigh transparency against party loyalty, potentially affecting trust in the Justice Department's handling of Epstein files. If the petition fails, it could reinforce cynicism about legislative accountability; if it succeeds, it might set a precedent for forcing votes on sensitive issues.