(LifeSiteNews) — Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, working with Democrat colleague Ro Khanna of California, plans to bring survivors of abuse by Jefferey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, to the U.S. Capitol in order to “highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability.”
The bipartisan press event scheduled for September 3 will feature victims, some of whom will be telling their stories of abuse for the first time.
“The survivors deserve justice and Americans deserve transparency,” Massie declared in an X post.
Massie and Khanna will also discuss the importance of their Epstein Files Transparency Act, meant to force the release of the Epstein files.
Many of President Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters were shocked if not infuriated when the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced in a joint statement last month that they had found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed powerful figures, kept a “client list,” or that he was murdered.
President Trump has said that the Epstein story is a “hoax” orchestrated by Democrats.
Massie responded by saying, “I think it’s an insult to the survivors to call this a hoax.”
Massie’s push for transparency has put him at odds with most of his fellow Republican members of Congress and with President Trump, who has repeatedly taken to social media to denounce the Kentucky congressman.
In July, Trump called Massie the “worst Republican Congressman” and an “embarrassment to Kentucky.”
“He’s lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous – A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for,” Trump said on Truth Social.
On Thursday, Trump amped up his criticism of Massie, publishing a polling report indicating that Massie’s feud with the President has caused a precipitous fall in the Kentucky congressman’s approval rating.
The report shows that from June until mid-August, Massie’s approval rating plunged from +11 to -16, and his image rating fell from +14 to -11.
Meanwhile, the President’s favorability rating has remained high.
The battle has placed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in a difficult position.
“Some people seem to enjoy trying to inflict political pain on their own teammates,” said Johnson, referring to Massie in a July 22 video press presentation.
“I try to follow Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment, ‘Never speak evil of another Republican,’” Johnson said. “My gosh, it’s hard to do sometimes around here.”
“I also try to follow the scripture. It says bless those who persecute you,” Johnson said.
Speaking of Massie, the southern congressman said, “Bless his heart.”
Speaker Johnson on Thomas Massie and his discharge petition to release the Epstein files: I try to never speak evil of another Republican. My gosh it’s hard to do sometimes.. I also try to follow the scripture. It says bless those who persecute you.. bless his heart pic.twitter.com/07TtCZ3NLy
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 22, 2025
