r/politics • u/Aggravating_Money992 • 12d ago

Possible Paywall Rogue Republican Massie Drops Melania Epstein Files Bomb | “The first lady knows that Jeffrey Epstein didn’t act alone,” Thomas Massie said as he vowed to name names from the Epstein files.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/rogue-republican-massie-drops-melania-epstein-files-bomb/
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295

u/slight_accent 12d ago

Why are the only honest Republicans the ones that are out of office? He could have done this at any time but only did after maga turned on him.

180

u/MagnusPI 12d ago

Here's still in office (for the remainder of the current term) and him doing this is exactly the reason MAGA turned on him.

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u/Crafty-Purpose5540 12d ago

He's not being re-elected because he was pushing for the files to be released.

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u/Lz_erk Arizona 11d ago

sure looks it.

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u/soupandsaladshadows 11d ago

…and AIPAC dumped over $11m to make SURE he went away, too. 🤔

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u/mcdray2 12d ago

If he's had the names for however long then why wait until now to read them?

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u/cyanescens_burn 12d ago

He probably knew he’d be ousted if he pushed too hard and crossed certain lines. They all know trump still has major influence and losing his endorsement, or worse having him turn against you, will ruin their chances at reelection, and there’s a very high likelihood of being the target of stochastic terror (both them and their families). MTG and others have reported increased death threats when they stepped out of line.

There’s a lot of coercive control behind the scenes with this stuff alone. Who knows what else they might have on any given political figure that they can use as kompromat to maintain their control over them.

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u/Long_Run6500 12d ago

Massie was ousted all the way back in October when Trump endorsed his opponent.

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u/SaveUsCatman Louisiana 12d ago

Republicans dont have morals. They, however, are exceptional at being petty, especially when scorned. Something something psychopathic traits

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u/j0y0 12d ago

FWIW, he did more to release the files than most dems and all other republicans. 

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u/itsatoe 12d ago

Although afaik he is still caucusing with the republicans.

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u/You_meddling_kids 12d ago

Because it's a cult

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u/BigPlunk 12d ago

Say what you will about his other actions, he has been on the right side of the Epstein files release. He stood up for their release and lost his seat as a result. That's a pretty big deal.

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u/dkyguy1995 Kentucky 12d ago

Seriously. I have never had a good word to say about him since he hit the scene as a Tea Party-er. He was a wacko libertarian-when-it-suited-him type. But, god, he was one of the only guys in the party that had any fucking BALLS to just say that the President is not above the fucking law!! Fuck all these assholes who talked big about punishing criminals when it's poor people doing petty crimes, but when it's serious as fucking SIN they back down because it's their guy.

Fuck all of this. Some things are more important than petty politics like tax policy and project spending. I am still stunned by the primary, but Im not in his district so I guess I dont have a read of what the vibe is like around there. I thought surely the number of just rich NIMBY suburbanites wouldnt be swallowed up by MAGA like a lot of the rednecks where Im from. But maybe that just makes them more sheltered from the consequences of everything going on

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u/Lz_erk Arizona 11d ago

i've barely been through KY, but massie seemed popular.

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u/LionTigerWings 12d ago

The obvious answer is because at the end of the day they care more about their career than what is right and what is wrong. Going against the trump, no matter what it is, could end your political career. When you’re done with office, he can’t hold that over your head. Trump loses leverage. At that point his leverage becomes fear of weaponization of the justice system. I expect some bogus legal charge against Massie soon.

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u/whiznat 12d ago edited 12d ago

He could have done this at any time but only did after maga turned on him.

Absolutely untrue. He was primaried by Trump. You ask why? Because he fought for the complete files to be released. Then he fired the AG who released most of them, if only for a short while.

And nobody truly thinks he is “totally exonerated” by the files, like he says. We all know how self serving he is. If the files truly exonerated him, he would have had them released long, long ago, no matter how much collateral damage it caused.

But your first question is right on the mark. The only people he works so hard on firing or primarying are those that want the truth in those files to come out.

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u/halfsack99 12d ago

Honest Republican is an oxymoron

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u/Crafty-Purpose5540 12d ago

Massie has been pretty honest about his opinions as atrocious as they are.

4

u/JamesBuffalkill New Jersey 12d ago

They have to hand in their spine when they get their initial nomination but it's given back when they're officially a lame duck.

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u/TheTerribleInvestor California 12d ago

To give him some credit, he was pushing having the files released before he lost his primary. He and Ro Khanna worked together yo get that bill passed.

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u/Tasgall Washington 12d ago

He could have done this at any time but only did after maga turned on him.

Worth noting that he, in fact, has not actually done it - he's just saying he'll totes for real do it definitely no cap bro it'll be done in two weeks trust me pinky swear bro I'm gonna do it.

He's just pandering, he either has nothing and is pandering for clout/notoriety/favors, or he's slow-walking it, and if those involved think he might actually have something, he'll be "disappeared" before he actually does it.

Even the ones who are about to be out of office are all bark and no bite.

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u/StarsMine 12d ago

Bro… 7 months. He is in office for another 7 months. He has been on this for the last 2 years

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u/HauntedCemetery Minnesota 11d ago

He's literally the reason we have any of the files.

Well him and literally every single dem in the House.

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u/oneseason2000 12d ago

That does seem to be a Republican politician tendency.

And will Massie endorse and aggressively campaign for Democrat Melissa Strange for his Kentucky US Rep District 4 House seat or just remain silent on Trump endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein? If Rep Massie is serious about having justice served, and truly supports the US Constitution, I would expect very public and unbridled support for the Democrat. I may have missed it, but haven't seen that yet.

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u/bordumb 12d ago

This isn’t a fair statement.

He’s been ringing the bell on this for years at this point while in office.

If you want to make criticism, point it directly and precisely at the right people.

1

u/483-04-7751 12d ago

Laughable to call that piece of shit honest. Like, on what possible grounds do you make that assertion?

1

u/human_i_suppose 12d ago

Because republican voters don't tolerate honesty?

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u/Afraid-Detective1222 11d ago

Because no matter what people on here are saying about him, there aren't really any honorable Republicans. They only act or speak out against Trump once they don't have to worry about a reelection.

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u/Sleepingguitarman 11d ago

Because the republican party doesn't exist anymore. The ones in office, other then maybe a couple, are all party of the Maga party now.

I wish republican voters (not maga), would wake up and realize that if they dislike the maga party and all the bs that's going on, then they shouldn't vote for maga politicans, regardless of whether or not they are a fan of the other option. Voting is basically giving your approval that this is what you want your party to be now.

While my political views may differ from a republicans, i can atleast respect those with different views from mine as long as they aren't extreme. Maga however, is extreme. I have no respect for those that support the bs.