Several Republican women in the House — among them Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace — have broken with Donald Trump and GOP leadership by pushing for disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and pursuing a censure of Rep. Cory Mills. Their push helped secure a law to disclose Epstein materials, but the censure resolution was referred to the House Ethics Committee in a 310-103-12 vote. The episode highlights internal GOP divisions as Speaker Mike Johnson seeks unity with a narrow majority and signals further challenges ahead, including efforts to ban congressional stock trading.
MAGA Women in the House Break With Trump and GOP Leadership Over Epstein Files and Censure Fight
Several Republican women in the House — among them Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace — have broken with Donald Trump and GOP leadership by pushing for disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and pursuing a censure of Rep. Cory Mills. Their push helped secure a law to disclose Epstein materials, but the censure resolution was referred to the House Ethics Committee in a 310-103-12 vote. The episode highlights internal GOP divisions as Speaker Mike Johnson seeks unity with a narrow majority and signals further challenges ahead, including efforts to ban congressional stock trading.
01:50 PM, 11/21/2025Politics
A small but influential group of Republican women in the U.S. House — including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace — has publicly broken with former President Donald Trump and GOP leadership on several high-profile issues, most notably the disclosure of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein and an effort to censure Rep. Cory Mills.
Push for Epstein files and legislative win
The lawmakers pressed the Department of Justice and fellow members of Congress to release records related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite reported pressure from Trump to withdraw support for the effort, the coalition persisted. This push culminated in passage of a disclosure measure that was later signed into law.
Censure effort and internal GOP tensions
The same group — Greene, Boebert and Mace, joined by Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Kat Cammack — took the lead in pressing for a censure of Rep. Cory Mills after his ex-girlfriend obtained a restraining order and accused him of threatening to share intimate photos; Mills denies the allegation. Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the resolution and forced a floor vote. Mace framed the move as nonpartisan and rooted in concerns about institutional integrity and the safety of women.
"This isn’t about partisan politics, it’s about protecting the integrity of this institution and the safety of women," Rep. Nancy Mace said.
The House ultimately voted 310-103-12 to refer the censure resolution to the Ethics Committee, effectively sidelining it. Members who supported the censure argued the matter reflected a broader reality facing many women and accused leadership of making back-room deals to avoid accountability. Critics, including Mills, called the effort politically motivated.
Broader implications for GOP unity
These public clashes underscore growing fissures within a narrowly divided Republican conference and pose a challenge for Speaker Mike Johnson, who must juggle competing factions to govern. Republican strategist Brian Robinson described the dissent as a return to traditional intra-party debate, rather than strict unanimity behind one leader or viewpoint.
Supporters of the dissenting lawmakers say they are acting out of principle and constituency concerns. Rep. Tim Burchett praised the independence of the group, noting many are responding to constituents and survivors who want accountability.
What’s next
Members of the group have signaled they will continue pressing leadership on additional items, including a possible discharge petition to pursue a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks. As the House navigates these disputes, the trajectory of the Republican conference will depend on whether party leaders can reconcile competing priorities while managing a slim majority.