A rebellion over the Jeffrey Epstein files by Republican leadership allies on the House Rules Committee is giving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) one of the trickiest conundrums of his Speakership so far.

Members on the panel — often called the “Speaker’s Committee” in reference to it being a tool of leadership — held up action on a host of planned legislation this week because they were terrified of Democrats forcing more tough votes on releasing the Epstein files.

Democrats are trying to force a vote on a bipartisan resolution that would compel the publication of the files. Johnson’s hand-picked GOP Rules Committee members, meanwhile, are pressing him to bring up an alternative, non-binding resolution to release the documents. But it’s not clear that the GOP-crafted measure could garner enough support in the slim majority to pass.

Stymied by the Epstein debate and unable to bring up anything but non-controversial bills under suspension of the rules because of the standstill, House GOP leaders canceled votes that were scheduled for Thursday — sending House members home for August recess one day early.

Unlike other fights during Johnson’s Speakership, the problem this time isn't hardline conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus, but rather members who Johnson has counted on in the past to push his priorities through the Rules Committee and to the House floor.

Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), who sits on the Rules Committee, raised concerns with having to vote on the Democratic-led amendment during a private meeting with leadership and other top House leaders on Monday, two sources told The Hill. She advocated for voting on the Republican resolution or a different measure for transparency, one of the sources said, which have key differences from the Democratic-crafted measure.

And while members of the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus who sit on the panel — namely Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) — are also advocating for........

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