CHARLESTON, WV - In response to House Republicans fleeing the Capitol and beginning the August recess early to avoid the release of the Epstein files, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said,  “Rather than grow a backbone and stand up for what’s right, Republicans are fleeing the Capitol to avoid releasing the Epstein files to protect Donald Trump. West Virginians expect their elected leaders to deliver results, not to protect predators and take extended vacations on the taxpayer's dime. After passing the biggest reverse Robin Hood wealth redistribution in American history with Trump’s budget betrayal, West Virginians know that Republicans are back to only protecting the rich and the powerful.” 

NEW: House Republicans are canceling several votes before the August recess to avoid Democrats’ legislation on releasing the Epstein files. 

• Politico: “House Republicans will scrap several votes this week as internal party drama over Jeffrey Epstein derails a key committee that handles legislation on its way to the floor.
• “The House Rules Committee came to a standstill Monday night as GOP leaders struggled to contain rank-and-file Republicans and their Democratic allies clamoring for a floor vote to compel the publication of materials related to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. …
• “That means House members will depart for August recess at the week’s end without being able to vote on legislation that would not otherwise be able to pass on the chamber floor with a simple majority vote, including an immigration-related bill that would increase penalties for individuals who enter the country illegally and a water-permitting measure.”

Even as their base revolts, the GOP has already voted against releasing the files. 

• House Rules Democrats: “It’s official: @HouseDemocrats are about to force a floor vote TODAY on releasing the EPSTEIN FILES.
• “@RepMGS is going to offer a motion that will trigger an up or down vote on @RepRoKhanna’s amendment to preserve and release records related to Jeffrey Epstein.”
• Axios: “House GOP blocks second Dem attempt to release Epstein files”
• NewsWire: “Trump is ‘ratioed’ on his own platform as MAGA fury erupts over Epstein scandal.”
• Politico: “The Epstein Saga Has Splintered Trump’s Movement Like Nothing Before”

POLLING: As Trump and Republicans scramble to change the narrative, Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of his handling of the Epstein files. 

• Rasmussen Poll: “Roughly two-thirds of every political category - 68% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 69% of unaffiliated voters - reject the idea that the Epstein case is closed and instead believe that there are dozens of powerful and wealthy offenders who need to face justice.”
• CNN Poll: “Americans are broadly dissatisfied with how much Epstein info the government has released. …
• “Very conservative Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are far more likely to be dissatisfied than are those who consider themselves somewhat conservative (48% vs. 40%).”
• Quinnipiac Poll: “17 percent of voters say they approve of the way the Trump Administration is handling the Jeffrey Epstein files, while 63 percent of voters disapprove…”
• Reuters: “Most Americans think President Donald Trump’s administration is hiding information about accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and give it poor marks on the issue after pledging to make public documents in the case, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. …
• “...69% of respondents thought the federal government was hiding details about Epstein’s clients, compared to 6% who disagreed and about one in four who said they weren’t sure.”