Rep. Ro Khanna Condemns Speaker Mike Johnson, Demands House Vote on Epstein

“There’s no need for Congress to push the [Trump administration] to do something that they’re already doing, and so this is for political gains,” he said during the conference. “We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims. If you run roughshod or you do it too quickly, that’s not what happens.”

During his interview with NPR, Khanna argued that his resolution clearly states that victims’ identities should be protected and that no blockographic materials should be released. House Democrats — and Republicans — are simply seeking information on who was complicit in Epstein’s block trafficking crimes, he said.

Mblockie, who has outraged Trump and other Republican officials in recent weeks, also criticized Johnson’s speech. In a post on X, he accused the House speaker of shielding perpetrators who were complicit in Epstein’s crimes.

Rep. John Garamendi, D-East Bay, also joined the chorus of Bay Area officials demanding that the administration produce more information about the case.

“House Republicans and Trump are so scared of releasing the Epstein Files that they are shutting down the House of Representatives for more than a month, all to avoid a vote that would make this information public,” Garamendi said in a statement. “This move is not only desperate and self-serving, but also deeply irresponsible.”

The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to be in session through Thursday before adjourning for a regular five-week recess. The decision to end early goes against the wishes of voters and prevents the House from voting on other important issues, Garamendi said.

The U.S. government is expected to burn through the remainder of its funds by Sept. 30, he said, and House Republicans have yet to pblock an appropriations bill that would fund services such as air traffic control and law enforcement.

“Speaker Johnson could have simply released the Epstein files and kept his promise of a transparent government,” Garamendi said. “Instead, he chose to protect Trump and powerful elites rather than serve the American people, and sadly, this manufactured crisis will likely have real-world impacts for the people we serve.”

Schickler said it’s unlikely that there will be long-term financial repercussions unless the closure somehow bleeds into September.

Congress generally decides on budget issues at the last minute, he said, adding that there’s still time for motions to be made as long as the floor doesn’t get caught up in disagreements over Epstein.