'I'm a big supporter': Republican hitting Trump on Epstein picks up support from MAGA
Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) effort to seek the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files appears to be rallying more Republican colleagues and political allies than he’s had all year:
NBC News reported Wednesday that a growing number of Trump’s MAGA supporters — both in Congress and among grassroots networks — are unhappy with Trump and top officials for stalling on publicizing the government’s remaining Epstein-related documents and records.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑Ga.), Lauren Boebert (R‑Colo.), Cory Mills (R‑Fla.), and Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) are among the Republicans who have backed the Massie‑Khanna resolution. In the Senate, Massie also has support from Sen. Rand Paul (R‑Ky.), a fellow Bluegrass State libertarian and close ally.
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“I’m a big supporter of his, and vice versa. I’m planning a 10‑city tour with him in September to support him, and we will do what it takes. We both represent sort of the liberty wing of the Republican Party,” Paul said. “We want to make sure that we don’t allow anybody to come in and try to defeat him.”
Paul was the lone GOP senator to oppose Trump’s spending megabill on debt‑related grounds. Unlike Massie, however, he isn’t facing a re‑election battle until 2028. Paul expressed confidence, saying he’s “very confident” that Massie will prevail over a Trump‑backed challenger.
Meanwhile, Massie has taken this on as his defining issue in recent weeks, making it his mission to compel the files’ release.
NBC noted that it’s an uncommon stance. On the Epstein issue, Massie is closer to many of Trump’s base than Trump himself. That marks a significant turnaround for the Kentucky conservative, who previously stood nearly alone within the GOP over his objections to Trump’s massive spending bill, citing concerns about the legislation significantly increasing the federal deficit that went ignored by other Republicans.
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Nearly a dozen House Republicans have signed onto Massie’s discharge petition, which is aimed at bypassing House Republican leadership to compel Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” that the DOJ and FBI hold. The effort has even drawn support from 13 Democrats, including House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
According to the report, Massie told reporters, “I have the people on my side,” referring to a CBS News/YouGov poll indicating that 89% of U.S. adults want the Epstein files released.
Republicans in the same poll split evenly when asked if they’re “satisfied” or “dissatisfied” with Trump’s handling of the Epstein matter — an unusual outcome given Trump’s typical strong support within his party.
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