Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would shut the House down early for its summer recess to head off Democratic demands for votes on calling for the release of files from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the New York Times reports.

In order to avoid what he called “political games,” Johnson said the House would adjourn until September after votes scheduled for Wednesday night.

Washington Post: “The House has largely come to a halt as Republican leaders struggle to assuage an irate group of lawmakers who are demanding that the Justice Department release files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.”

The only thing to conclude is that there’s something really bad in the Epstein files that President Trump doesn’t want made public.

“House Republicans have lost control of the floor over their Jeffrey Epstein blow-up, and they’re struggling to chart a path out of the crisis,” Politico reports.

“GOP leaders are talking with Trump administration officials, searching for ways to appease Republican members incensed over the lack of public information and Speaker Mike Johnson’s handling of the matter broadly.”

“House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, as he headed into a House GOP conference meeting Tuesday morning, said in a brief interview that Republican leaders and others are now trying to ‘expedite’ the administration’s release of information over the August recess.”

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is 88-years-old, told Punchbowl News: “I’m certainly going to run for reelection.”

“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has a discharge petition that would require the release of Epstein-related documents, is undeterred and warning that support for his effort will only be bigger when Congress returns in September,” Politico reports.

“He says at least a dozen Republicans support his proposal.”