Johnson Fast-Tracks Epstein Files Vote as GOP Braces for Defections. Speaker Mike Johnson quickly scheduled a House vote on releasing all Epstein files after GOP leaders realized they couldn’t stop the effort. The White House and GOP leadership had long worked to delay the vote, but sources say momentum in the House made resistance impossible. The bipartisan bill — led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna — is expected to draw major Republican support, with leaders anticipating mass defections from Trump. Supporters aim for a veto-proof two-thirds majority, which would pressure the Senate to act despite Trump’s opposition. A senior White House official said Trump was informed ahead of time and recognized the vote was “an inevitable reality.” Johnson previously sent the House into recess early to avoid the issue, with GOP and White House allies working behind the scenes for months to block a floor vote. After Massie and Khanna secured the required 218 signatures on Wednesday, Johnson surprised lawmakers by announcing he would expedite the vote next week. The decision came hours after the House Oversight Committee released thousands of new Epstein emails and Trump officials met with Rep. Lauren Boebert, a GOP supporter of the release effort.