GOP lawmaker says new Epstein bombshell might keep House in recess ‘through next year’

A new report exposing shocking details about Jeffrey Epstein’s global dealings has caused fresh political turmoil — with one MAGA lawmaker even suggesting that the House of Representatives could remain in recess well into 2026 to avoid the fallout.

According to a Friday investigation by Drop Site News, leaked emails from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak revealed that Epstein played a key role in brokering a defense agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and Israel. The revelation adds to the growing list of Epstein’s alleged international connections and covert influence operations.

Reacting to the report, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) posted on X that the latest Epstein bombshell “might keep the House out of session throughout next year,” implying lawmakers want to avoid dealing with the political storm that could follow.

The House has been on recess since September 19, after passing a funding bill that stalled in the Senate amid heated disputes over healthcare policy. Despite having the power to reconvene Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has refused to do so — a move that some critics argue is meant to sidestep a controversial vote related to Epstein’s case.

That vote concerns a discharge petition introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), which would compel the Justice Department to release all classified files on Epstein. The petition currently has 217 signatures, just one short of the 218 needed to trigger a House vote. An Arizona Democrat who won a special election last year has vowed to sign but hasn’t been sworn in, prompting a lawsuit accusing Speaker Johnson of deliberately stalling the process.

Drop Site News has previously reported that Epstein helped arrange a security cooperation agreement between Mongolia and Israel, and even established a secret communication channel between Israel and Russia during the Syrian Civil War.

Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, was known for his close ties with powerful figures, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Woody Allen, and Bill Gates.

Trump’s long association with Epstein continues to draw scrutiny — particularly after resurfaced quotes in which Epstein described himself as “Donald’s closest friend for 10 years.” Critics have also accused Speaker Johnson of trying to shield Trump from political damage, especially after Johnson made — and later retracted — claims that Trump had secretly acted as an FBI informant against Epstein.

The growing controversy surrounding these revelations threatens to deepen divisions within the GOP and could extend the congressional standstill for months to come.