Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican who has served Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012, recently attributed his primary election loss to his prominent role in a bipartisan push for transparency regarding the Department of Justice’s files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Massie lost the May 19 primary to Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer, who secured 54.4 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press. The outcome ends Massie’s bid for a ninth term in the House of Representatives.
"I think the biggest crime I committed against the swamp, Kristen, was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done, which is releasing the Epstein files, that everybody knew needed to be done." — Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican Congressman
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Massie articulated that his efforts to release the voluminous Epstein documents were a significant factor in turning "the swamp" against him. He highlighted the unique nature of the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," which he co-authored with Democratic California Representative Ro Khanna. Massie stated, "I think the biggest crime I committed against the swamp, Kristen, was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done, which is releasing the Epstein files, that everybody knew needed to be done." He further characterized the legislation as potentially "the only bill that’s passed Washington, D.C. in the last 10 years that lobbyists haven’t written."
The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandated the release of various documents within 30 days, including flight logs, travel records, names of individuals and entities referenced in Epstein’s cases, and internal DOJ communications. Additionally, the bill sought to publicize records related to the destruction, deletion, alteration, misplacement, or concealment of documents tied to Epstein and his associates, as well as documentation concerning his death.
To advance this legislation, Massie and Khanna bypassed traditional House Republican leadership by utilizing a discharge petition. This parliamentary maneuver requires 218 signatures from House members to force a bill to the floor for a vote, circumventing leadership's control. Massie noted in September that GOP leaders were in "full panic" over the petition and had "actually threatened" some of its cosigners "politically, not physically." The petition ultimately garnered signatures from every sitting House Democrat and three Republicans: Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace. The crucial 218th signature came from newly sworn-in Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, shortly after she took her oath of office. The bill subsequently passed the House with only one dissenting vote. President Donald Trump, who initially expressed opposition to the legislation, ultimately signed it into law in November 2025.
Massie described the bipartisan success of the bill as a direct result of public pressure rather than party leadership directives. "It was written by me and Ro Khanna, and we used the pressure of the American people to cross the aisle and get things done," he explained. "That’s when they decided I had to be taken out, that I was becoming effective, so they wanted to eliminate me."
Beyond the Epstein files, Massie had a history of policy disagreements with the White House. He voted against President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill" spending package, opposed the administration’s tariff policies, and publicly criticized U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. President Trump had publicly labeled Massie a "Third Rate Congressman" on Truth Social and endorsed Gallrein before the challenger had formally announced his candidacy. President Trump’s political apparatus further supported Gallrein through a super PAC named MAGA KY, specifically established to defeat Massie. Federal Election Commission records indicate that GOP megadonor Paul Singer contributed $1 million to the effort, with another $750,000 coming from a super PAC linked to casino tycoon Miriam Adelson. This primary contest ultimately became the most expensive House primary election in U.S. history.
Despite his electoral defeat, Massie affirmed during the Sunday interview his commitment to continuing efforts to identify names that remain redacted in the released Epstein documents. Regarding his own political future, Massie remained non-committal but open to possibilities. "I will not rule out anything and, right now, I’m not going to rule in anything," he stated. Reflecting on his recent time, he added, "Look, I’ve spent the last five days on my farm with my grandkids and my cattle and my peach trees, and it’s pretty nice life. I don’t know if I want to screw that up again."
