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THE HOUSE IS POISED to gavel out for the summer after a dispute between President Trump and House Republicans over documents pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein brought the chamber’s business to a standstill.

Republicans were coming off a huge victory in passing Trump’s agenda bill earlier this month, but the GOP scuffled into summer break gripped by divisions over the Epstein case after the Department of Justice (DOJ) determined the disgraced financier did not keep a “client list.”

The DOJ sought to close the book on the matter and the president has demanded Republicans move on.

But the controversy has taken on a life of its own, even after Trump instructed the DOJ to seek the release of the Epstein grand jury transcripts.

A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday declined the DOJ's request to unseal the transcripts.

“The Court’s hands are tied — a point that the government concedes,” wrote U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg.

Now, the DOJ says it will meet with Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell and a House committee has subpoenaed her testimony.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sought to downplay the Maxwell angle on Wednesday, saying there are questions about whether she can “be counted on to tell the truth.”

Johnson is caught between Trump and the unruly House GOP caucus, which is demanding answers and full transparency.

Some of Johnson’s own allies on the House Rules Committee are making his life difficult.

The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell report:

“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 publish many new Epstein files, while Republicans on the Rules panel want Johnson to vote on an alternative, non-binding resolution to release the documents.

That will have to wait until at least September, when the House reconvenes.

Johnsons said Wednesday the House will take “appropriate action” when it returns to Washington if the grand jury transcripts haven't been released.

Meanwhile, The Hill’s Mike Lillis reports that Democrats are playing hardball, sensing a political opportunity.

“The focus on Epstein has… been remarkably successful, energizing the Democratic grassroots and aggravating tensions within the GOP."

The Epstein case has long been a fascination on the right, but now many Democrats have taken up the cause, sensing a vulnerability as Trump insists there’s nothing to see.

“The pedophile protection party is shutting down Congress just to avoid voting on the release of the Epstein files,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) wrote on X.

SENATE LOOKS AHEAD TO FISCAL CLIFF

Is the government headed for a shutdown when Congress reconvenes in September?

Senate Democrats on Tuesday agreed to advance the first of a dozen bills funding the government, even though many are furious at their GOP colleagues for passing a $9 billion rescissions package last week.

Thirty-eight Democrats voted for a motion to proceed on legislation funding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the first appropriations bill for fiscal 2026 to advance on the Senate floor.

However, Democrats are warning that just because they voted to begin the floor debate on the VA bill doesn’t mean they’ll vote for final passage.

“We will see how the floor process evolves here on the floor,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. “Given Republicans’ recent actions undermining bipartisan appropriations, nothing is guaranteed.”

Democrats say they can’t negotiate future funding bills if Republicans will turn around and claw back funding at the White House’s request.

The Daily Signal reports the White House is close to sending a second rescissions package to Congress.

“We’ve got a number........

© The Hill