He like attention and cloaks it in being principled.

Quote:

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The interviewer asked, "When was the last time you talked to Speaker Johnson about the Epstein matter at all?"
"One day, they needed my vote, and I offered to give them my vote if he would issue a press release thanking me for my good work on the Epstein Files Transparency Act," Massie replied. "That's all I required to get my vote. And I think he probably went and gave somebody else a bill to pass instead of doing the public statement."

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https://pjmedia.com/chris-queen/2026/02/18/massies-price-for-a-vote-a-press-release-and-a-pat-on-the-head-n4949653


https://redstate.com/bradslager/2026/02/18/a-new-politico-interview-exposes-thomas-massie-n2199299

Thomas Massie has gone toe-to-toe with Donald Trump, Mike Johnson and Pam Bondi — and he says there’s more to come.

The rebel Republican shares his ominous prediction for the GOP, his strategy to dig even deeper into the Epstein files and more👇 https://t.co/PpOfuFAttB

— POLITICO (@politico) February 17, 2026

aggie93 said:

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There are about 50 RINOs we need to get rid of more than Massie but go on. Massie may literally be the smartest guy in Congress and he says and does what he believes in. I certainly wish he would play a little more team ball but he fights for issues and not parties. What we need though are more completely corrupt weenies that enrich themselves on our tax money and only care about their own power and being re-elected.

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What we need are more guys who understand that when you get into a down and dirty political fight with democrats, being the most principled guy in the fight doesn't help win anything. There is a time and place to grandstand on principles, and the times he has chosen have not been ideal. The whole Epstein files fight made a bunch of noise, but distracted congress from a lot of other much more important things they could have been doing (codifying the DOGE cuts for one).

AGHouston11 said:

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I don't even like him but you know if Trump would have done what he and his admin promised then Massie would be a non issue!

Now all you hear is Trumps admin is the most transparent- no they are not ! Massie forced them to do what they promised then REFUSED to deliver on.

Now it's a smear campaign on the guy even more. You know in Bondi's own words he's a failed politician.

Except he's one of the ONLY REASONS the files that have been released were.

Trumps administration will find out in November when the the base doesn't turn out and it's by their own choosing. It's a sad thing to watch as they screwed over the people that voted for them.

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Ok, so it was a big campaign promise that was taking longer to actually fulfill. Now that the files are out, what did it accomplish? Nothing. People we already knew to be sleazy were in a few cases confirmed to be sleazy. Nobody is going to jail, nothing is changing, and now we have wasted a bunch of time and picked political fights within the party because Thomas Massie's ego didn't get properly stroked to earn his vote on something more important than what he accomplished.

shiftyandquick said:

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AGHouston11 said:

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I don't even like him but you know if Trump would have done what he and his admin promised then Massie would be a non issue!

Now all you hear is Trumps admin is the most transparent- no they are not ! Massie forced them to do what they promised then REFUSED to deliver on.

Now it's a smear campaign on the guy even more. You know in Bondi's own words he's a failed politician.

Except he's one of the ONLY REASONS the files that have been released were.

Trumps administration will find out in November when the the base doesn't turn out and it's by their own choosing. It's a sad thing to watch as they screwed over the people that voted for them.

---

I have lots of people I personally know that posted all the time during the Biden administration that "Epstein didn't kill himself" and those kinds of memes.

Those guys are now as quiet as church mice about Epstein. They still are 100% MAGA and 100% support Trump, but they don't talk about the Epstein files at all. They know they have been compromised and are obvious hypocrites. And many of them don't appreciate being put in that position. Of taking the side of child abusers. It's the most absolute kind of loyalty where any decent person would feel sick.

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Yep same. Quiet as a mouse. They are scared people will get mad at them. Its human nature to be cowards at certain issues.

shiftyandquick said:

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You know a Republican has gone rogue when he actually demands that the Epstein files not be covered up.

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Let's break down the logic of your statement...

You realize you're actually alleging that Massie is holding the Trump administration's feet to the fire for "covering up" Epstein files that THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ had and chose not to release.

Are you willing to reply and admit you actually believe that allegation? Or are you willing to man up and acknowledge that the above scenario would never happen? Or, will you just take Door #3 and slink back into the shadows?

I think some people must know the same group of ******* cause I know of know one who is ashamed to talk about Epstein.

Where do people such bizarros that pull their support for Trump over a single issue like… Epstein?

Get better friends and acquaintances cause it sounds like people hang around so weak minded poorly principled people.

They've released most if not all of it.

Danimal said:

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What a ridiculous statement OP. "Look at what the other side thinks of Massie and the Epstein issue! That means he can't be right! Because it's the other side! Screw Massie!"

This is the logic of a child.

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This goes for you, too. To believe that there is anything that Trump is withholding in order to "protect Trump", you have to ALSO believe the Biden Administration wanted to protect Trump as well.

Is this actually what you believe, Mr. "adult" logic?

shiftyandquick said:

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jrdaustin said:

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shiftyandquick said:

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You know a Republican has gone rogue when he actually demands that the Epstein files not be covered up.

---

Let's break down the logic of your statement...

You realize you're actually alleging that Massie is holding the Trump administration's feet to the fire for "covering up" Epstein files that THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ had and chose not to release.

Are you willing to reply and admit you actually believe that allegation? Or are you willing to man up and acknowledge that the above scenario would never happen? Or, will you just take Door #3 and slink back into the shadows?

---

You think you got me because Biden did something bad/wrong too?

How about you have some principles and demand that EVERYONE do the right thing.

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What makes you think there's any "there" left to be released?

ETA: You still haven't stated your position. Am I to understand you choose Door #3?

shiftyandquick said:

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AGHouston11 said:

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I don't even like him but you know if Trump would have done what he and his admin promised then Massie would be a non issue!

Now all you hear is Trumps admin is the most transparent- no they are not ! Massie forced them to do what they promised then REFUSED to deliver on.

Now it's a smear campaign on the guy even more. You know in Bondi's own words he's a failed politician.

Except he's one of the ONLY REASONS the files that have been released were.

Trumps administration will find out in November when the the base doesn't turn out and it's by their own choosing. It's a sad thing to watch as they screwed over the people that voted for them.

---

I have lots of people I personally know that posted all the time during the Biden administration that "Epstein didn't kill himself" and those kinds of memes.

Those guys are now as quiet as church mice about Epstein. They still are 100% MAGA and 100% support Trump, but they don't talk about the Epstein files at all. They know they have been compromised and are obvious hypocrites. And many of them don't appreciate being put in that position. Of taking the side of child abusers. It's the most absolute kind of loyalty where any decent person would feel sick.

---

Anybody who thought that anything meaningful about anybody important was going to be in those files after 4 years of the Biden/deep state boys having their chance to leak anything that reflected badly on Trump and nearly a year of Trump's crew looking through them to find things that would reflect badly on democrats is delusional. The whole fight in congress over forcing the release of them is an own goal by Massie and the Rs. Yes, they should have been released. But looking at what it took to make it happen and what didn't happen while they were fighting about it, was it worth it? No. It was a successful diversion that kept congress from working on other more important things, which is a win for the Ds, masterminded by MTG and Massie.

flown-the-coop said:

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And they were already releasing docs before Massies stunt.

People claiming coverup by Trump are just flaring up their TDS at this point. It's sad.

Massie has personally done more to ensure NO justice comes from the Epstein "files".

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Yup.

txags92 said:

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aggie93 said:

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There are about 50 RINOs we need to get rid of more than Massie but go on. Massie may literally be the smartest guy in Congress and he says and does what he believes in. I certainly wish he would play a little more team ball but he fights for issues and not parties. What we need though are more completely corrupt weenies that enrich themselves on our tax money and only care about their own power and being re-elected.

---

What we need are more guys who understand that when you get into a down and dirty political fight with democrats, being the most principled guy in the fight doesn't help win anything. There is a time and place to grandstand on principles, and the times he has chosen have not been ideal. The whole Epstein files fight made a bunch of noise, but distracted congress from a lot of other much more important things they could have been doing (codifying the DOGE cuts for one).

---

Ok, well at least you admit you would rather have a corrupt weenie that is mainly concerned with their own power and enriching themselves so long as they cater to you when it's politically expedient. That's fine.

I don't agree with Massie on many things but he has been outspoken on Epstein for a LONG time and it is one of the reasons he didn't endorse Trump and has paid a heavy political price for it. I'd much rather have a Chip Roy type who picks their battles a little more carefully but like I said we need to get rid of about 50 other RINOs more than getting rid of Massie. He is exactly what he presents to be.

aggie93 said:

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txags92 said:

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aggie93 said:

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There are about 50 RINOs we need to get rid of more than Massie but go on. Massie may literally be the smartest guy in Congress and he says and does what he believes in. I certainly wish he would play a little more team ball but he fights for issues and not parties. What we need though are more completely corrupt weenies that enrich themselves on our tax money and only care about their own power and being re-elected.

---

What we need are more guys who understand that when you get into a down and dirty political fight with democrats, being the most principled guy in the fight doesn't help win anything. There is a time and place to grandstand on principles, and the times he has chosen have not been ideal. The whole Epstein files fight made a bunch of noise, but distracted congress from a lot of other much more important things they could have been doing (codifying the DOGE cuts for one).

---

Ok, well at least you admit you would rather have a corrupt weenie that is mainly concerned with their own power and enriching themselves so long as they cater to you when it's politically expedient. That's fine.

I don't agree with Massie on many things but he has been outspoken on Epstein for a LONG time and it is one of the reasons he didn't endorse Trump and has paid a heavy political price for it. I'd much rather have a Chip Roy type who picks their battles a little more carefully but like I said we need to get rid of about 50 other RINOs more than getting rid of Massie. He is exactly what he presents to be.

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Who says I want somebody corrupt? I want people who can look at priorities and understand what is really important and what is flashy but worthless. Was he right to want the files released? Absolutely. Was it a good idea to pick a big fight within the R party when we have a lot of things that are more important to get done before the mid-terms? Absolutely not.

We are in a dogfight with the Ds right now and if we lose the midterms, the chance to get anything meaningful done goes away for the rest of Trump's term. So we should be laser focused in congress on making the kinds of moves that will cause meaningful change in how America is governed and how we spend tax payer money. And instead, we have Massie over here crowing about refusing to vote for something because Johnson didn't unzip and fellate him publicly for his relatively meaningless accomplishment.

shiftyandquick said:

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You know a Republican has gone rogue when he actually demands that the Epstein files not be covered up.

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Like when your party covered them up from 2021 to 2025 despite complete control of Washington?

annie88 said:

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They've released most if not all of it.

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Again not sure where the information is coming from.
You are listening to the same idiots that forgot the whole stash the FBI office had after their binder release.

Always funny to see who defends Massie.

#1 Leftists
#2 Epsteiners

#3... <crickets>

AGHouston11 said:

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flown-the-coop said:

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And they were already releasing docs before Massies stunt.

People claiming coverup by Trump are just flaring up their TDS at this point. It's sad.

Massie has personally done more to ensure NO justice comes from the Epstein "files".

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Did you get that off of Fox - because that's the garbage they keep saying.

You have not been following along.

You need to go back to the influencer binder release and read more on the time line.

The release of any actual files came only when Massie and the Democrats forced a house vote. Nothing was happening prior!

Oh unless you count the slow roll of Comer that hasn't produced anything- sounds like the new Trey Gowdy. Let everyone know when he has something happen on the Biden's 100s of LLCs.

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Wrong. And I have been following along. Are you aware there is an DOJ Epstein thread that is pretty active?

shiftyandquick said:

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jrdaustin said:

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shiftyandquick said:

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You know a Republican has gone rogue when he actually demands that the Epstein files not be covered up.

---

Let's break down the logic of your statement...

You realize you're actually alleging that Massie is holding the Trump administration's feet to the fire for "covering up" Epstein files that THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ had and chose not to release.

Are you willing to reply and admit you actually believe that allegation? Or are you willing to man up and acknowledge that the above scenario would never happen? Or, will you just take Door #3 and slink back into the shadows?

---

You think you got me because Biden did something bad/wrong too?

How about you have some principles and demand that EVERYONE do the right thing.

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Because you didn't say a damn thing for 4 years.

Colonel Kurtz said:

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If the President had only released the files like he promised to, we'd never be hearing about Massie again.

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He did release the files.

Colonel Kurtz said:

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If the President had only released the files like he promised to, we'd never be hearing about Massie again.

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You must not really follow Massie at all.

Massie is typically the one or two Rs that feel the need to vote with the Dems to ensure the final votes for R legislation barely make it across.

He was against the OBBB based on his "principles". It Trump had published everything, Massie would be doing what he is doing now. Why redactions!? Why not redactions?! Why no context!? You cannot explain everything away with context!

He is an irrational bloviational narcissist who thinks himself Emperor of the USA because he won an election in a small Kentucky district.

People should have learned who he was before anointing him sainthood over his Epstein file circus.

Loser chump.