On Tuesday afternoon, House Republicans took steps to block a renewed attempt by Chamber of Commerce Democrats to vote on releasing materials related to the late convicted sexual offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

The vote was strictly along party lines, permitting Democrats to propose amendments that would compel Attorney General Pam Bondy to publish “records and evidence” from Epstein’s federal investigation and imprisonment. House Democratic leaders have aimed to push Republican lawmakers into a politically uncertain situation, seeking to make the Trump administration reveal all documents connected to Epstein or delay the president’s choice about what information to disclose and when.

Interestingly, some Republican lawmakers supported the idea of releasing the Epstein Files but voted against allowing Democrat Rep. Locanna to propose amendments concerning these files within 30 days of the measure’s enactment. This amendment could have been tied to a cryptography bill currently being reviewed by the House after passing in the Senate.

Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett remarked, “It’s just politics, not protecting little kids,” emphasizing his belief that the situation is more about political maneuvering than genuine concern.

This latest attempt follows a failed vote on Kanna’s amendment during a House Rules Committee meeting on Monday evening. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, initially collaborated with Democrats to support the amendment, yet he ultimately voted against allowing it to come to the floor.

Norman mentioned that Bondi has an “independent party” evaluating records linked to Epstein. Democrats have sought to leverage this issue, aiming to reach many Americans, including Trump supporters.

“The American people deserve to know the truth,” said Jeffries during a press conference on Monday, implying that if supporters of Trump indeed want transparency, Congress should strive to uncover the truth regarding the matters affecting the public.

A recent unsigned memo from the Justice Department and FBI indicated that Epstein did not maintain a client list and that there was no “reliable evidence” suggesting he had blackmailed a significant American figure. The memo concluded that Epstein had taken his own life in a New York prison in 2019.

House Speaker Johnson, while supporting the release of the Epstein files on Tuesday, mentioned he would defer the decision on which materials to publish, expressing his push for transparency. “We are intellectually consistent about this. [Former President Ronald] Reagan said he should trust Americans,” he noted.

Johnson added, “I trust him because I know that President Trump does that too. It’s a very sensitive subject, but we should put everything out there and let people decide.”