Mike Johnson plots revenge for Epstein files humiliation with 'higher threshold' rules change in Congress : report

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 21 November 2025 13:01 EST


Speaker Mike Johnson is reportedly plotting a change in the rules for the House of Representatives after Democrats — joined by just a few rogue Republicans — forced his hand on a vote to release the government’s files on pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, a new report reveals.

The move, reported Friday by Axios, comes after the House passed a discharge petition filed by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to declassify files related to the late convicted sex offender. Johnson had opposed the legislation until Trump gave his blessing.

An individual member can file a discharge petition to force a vote on the floor if a majority of members sign it. Still, only seven discharge petitions — including Epstein — have become law since 1935. But Johnson told Axios that discharge petitions have become “too common” and that he wanted to make them harder to obtain.

“I'd like to see a higher threshold for a lot of these motions. You know, privileged motions, discharge petitions,” added House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to the outlet. This also comes as Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) received enough signatures for his discharge petition to restore union rights for federal workers.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/mike-johnson-discharge-petition-epstein-b2870068.html

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When you can't "win" or even "govern", you "change the rules".

[intheflow]

1. A rule change would not have stemmed this vote.

Mikey's just pissing in the wind.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. "A rule change would not have stemmed this vote."

Yeah it could have because the draft was sitting in Committee and the Committee majority refused to release it for the full House consideration (debate/amendments/vote).

The Rule allowed the legislation to be forced out of the Committee with 218 signatures (a number that also corresponds to the majority of the members of the House), and it effectively does an end-run around the Committee and the SOH.

Most bills that get assigned to a Committee go there as their "final resting place", where a handful might actually be allowed out on the floor.

The SOH controls the legislative calendar.

[Rebl2]

2. Of course

Change the rules, lie and cheat. Republicans good at that.

[Cha]

4. Hope it Blowback in his Lying Squeaky

Ugly Mouse face.

[turbinetree]

5. He reminds of that Hobbs Cartoon and he is Calvin just pissing on the Constitution and this

republic whenever he gets a chance......... he withheld all by himself the means of seating a duly elected representative from being sworn in for over 40 days after an election..........and now he wants to perform a rule change...............sounds like his underwear is getting a little tight and twisted...............

[hlthe2b]

6. I can't imagine most R's in the House are very happy with Johnson... Why would they not just vote to remove him?

[patphil]

7. Don't be surprised if Mike Johnson's time as Speaker is soon over.

I predict: There's only about 6 more days this year for the House to be in session. Johnson should savor them; he'll be gone in January.

[onenote]

8. What's the basis for predicting there's only 6 more days for the House to be in session this year?

The House Calendar shows the House is in session four days a week for each of the first three weeks of December.

[patphil]

19. You're right, I don't know where I got 6. In any event, I still predict he will be challenged in January.

[Bengus81]

21. Your off by 10 from what I found. They have 16 days in session before the year ends

So what's happening on the ACA subsidies??

[patphil]

24. According to the House schedule they are in session for 12 more days this year.

https://www.house.gov/legislative-activity/2025-11-18

They're done for November, and are in session for 12 days in December.

[ck4829]

20. One can hope

[twodogsbarking]

9. While I don't usually condone giving wedgies I think he deserves one.

[Uncle Joe]

11. I'm thinking Johnson had more than a few while in school and is suffering from PTSD as result.

[Wonder Why]

17. It's not school drinking that causes Post Trump Sickness Disorder.

[Grins]

10. Evidence his real goal was to protect pedophiles. (Plural)

Every 13 years is “too common?” (What’s “too common” is the damn “shadow docket!”)

In history, presidents had to court Speakers and leaders of the Senate. They no longer do when faced with toady’s like Johnson.

Johnson has proven to be the most feckless Speaker in the history of the House. The one Speaker willing to cover-up something as heinous as - fucking children. (I meant to say that.). What makes him more despicable is his moralizing, his faux religiousness, and that he is a Constitutional lawyer who ignores its precepts.

Going back to Gingrich I have never had a good thought about Republican Speakers. The internal IN-HOUSE fighting over Boehner, Ryan, McCarthy, Johnson, and whatever Republican follows him is just more proof : Republicans cannot govern.

[keroro gunsou]

12. speaker johnson

is a whiney, pissy little bitch.

[Bengus81]

22. LOL...is that off of Burn Notice?

[2naSalit]

13. Moses grinder mike...

Isn't going to be speaker much longer. Marge is probably getting ready to kick him to the curb, she was making noise to that effect a couple days ago.

[Bluetus]

14. How many humuliations does Johnson want? Is he going for the Guinness record?

I don't see why any Dem would vote for such a rule change, and I'd figure the usual rogues from the GOP side would oppose it as well.

And seriously? When a majority of representatives say they want a vote on an issue, why should one guy be able to stop that?

[flashman13]

15. I would guess a rules change would require a majority vote. I doubt if Mikey could find a majority to vote for a change.

The Republicans must know they will soon be in the majority. They just might like the current rule to remain in place.

[Dem4life1970]

16. They have to continually rig the system

...to jam through their unpopular, undemocratic, ideas.

Changing the rules is the only way they can achieve success because they are only there to serve the 1%. Period. End of story.

[Martin Eden]

18. 7 in 90 years is "too common"

You know what else is too common?

A pathologically lying malignant narcissist becoming president twice in eight years.

A pseudo-Xian lying toadie becoming house speaker, ever.

[Mz Pip]

23. Instead of plotting revenge

why not just do your job and get your house in order.