“Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is discussing backing a measure in support of disclosing more information related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,” The Hill reports.
“Johnson’s consideration of the move comes as outrage over the Trump administration’s handling of the matter roils the Republican Party.”
Time: “While the idea of a secret ‘Epstein client list’ became a fixation for far-right influencers and members of Trump’s base, the candidate himself rarely brought up Epstein unprompted in campaign speeches or rallies. Instead, it was Trump’s official and unofficial surrogates—many of whom now occupy top posts in his Administration—who repeatedly stoked expectations that explosive revelations were imminent, often suggesting prosecutions were coming and that thousands of pages of damning material would soon be released.”
“Now many in Trump’s base are accusing him of falling far short of what they expected him to do with the Epstein case, partly because of years of rhetoric from his allies that neither Trump nor his campaign did much to refute.”
The White House said that President Trump would not recommend appointing a special prosecutor to look into the case of disgraced financier and sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, rebuffing calls from some allies, The Hill reports.
Said press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “The idea was floated from someone in the media to the president. The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That’s how he feels.”
With surveys showing Ken Paxton (R) as the Republican frontrunner for U.S. Senate in Texas, the Cook Political Report shifts its rating for the seat from Solid to Likely Republican.
“Were Paxton to win the primary, we would consider shifting our rating further in Democrats’ direction.”
White House doctors diagnosed President Trump with “chronic venous insufficiency,” Bloomberg reports.
“Trump, 79, underwent an exam after recent photos showed the president with swollen ankles and a bruised hand… The ankle swelling is related to the venous disease, which occurs when damaged valves struggle to keep blood flowing from the legs back to the heart.”
ABC News: Trump underwent vascular testing because of leg swelling.
Former Vice President Mike Pence joined the chorus of Republicans calling on the Trump administration to release the files about Jeffrey Epstein, CBS News reports.
Said Pence: “I think the time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution.”
“President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to turn away a challenge to his sweeping tariffs, telling the justices they should let the legal fight develop before getting involved,” Bloomberg reports.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll: “Close to two-thirds of Republicans think the administration is hiding details on Epstein’s business… Just 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the case, a weaker rating than the president received on any other issue.”
“GOP members of the House Rules Committee had a contentious 90-minute meeting this morning with Speaker Mike Johnson about the chamber’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein situation,” Punchbowl News reports.
“The House Rules Committee is one of the only venues where the minority can regularly offer amendments that could change the course of the floor debate on a bill or resolution.”
“But Epstein amendments are proving particularly knotty for the GOP in Rep. Virginia Foxx’s (R-NC) Rules Committee… There’s not much Johnson can do to stop Democrats from making the Epstein saga extraordinarily uncomfortable for House Republicans. Foxx can’t stop Democrats from offering amendments and forcing the panel to take recorded votes on them.”
“Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults say that President Donald Trump’s policies have helped them since he took office, according to a new AP-NORC poll that finds underwhelming marks for him on key issues, including the economy, immigration, government spending and health care.”
“In fact, the Republican president fails to earn majority approval on any of the issues included in the poll.”
“House Republican leaders are under fierce internal pressure to send members home for the summer amid deepening anxiety over a possible vote on the Jeffrey Epstein controversy,” Politico reports.
“Many GOP lawmakers fear being cornered by an expected ‘discharge petition’ that would force a House vote on publicizing Epstein-related records. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) launched the effort Tuesday, making it available for signatures and a possible floor vote as soon as next week.”
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation’s 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities, to track down immigrants who may not be living legally in the United States,” the AP reports.
“If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain. Do not let that happen. Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power. Of commitment to seek justice for victims. Of dedication to truth above all else.”
— Maureen Comey, quoted by Politico, the day after she was fired as a federal prosecutor.
“President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, are considering a ‘mega deal’ that would see the US buy battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv agreeing to buy a swath of weapons from America,” the New York Post reports.
“Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought isn’t interested in giving assurances to lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the White House will abide by any bipartisan spending agreements made this year,” Politico reports.
Said Vought: “The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan.”
“With Republicans in full control of government, he said now is the time for reining in spending, even without input from Democrats on Capitol Hill. He did not lay out a legislative path for partisan spending bills to clear the Senate, where 60 votes are required to pass legislation.”
Here’s a chart of Google searches for “Jeffrey Epstein” over the last week:
“Zohran Mamdani came to Washington on Wednesday to share tips on how his longshot campaign for the Democratic nomination in New York’s mayoral contest connected with voters through clever social media posts and a relentless focus on affordability,” the Washington Post reports.
“National Democrats gushed about what they heard… The event was attended by about 40 mainly progressive lawmakers and shifted venues because of high demand.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.