Michelle Fischbach gets right-wing pushback after votes against Epstein files release

The battle over whether the Trump administration should release files on sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein could become a political problem for at least one member of Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation: Michelle Fischbach.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is shutting the House down early for its August recess to head off a Democratic push to vote on the Epstein case, which has become a political liability for President Trump. Fischbach, who fended off a tough primary challenge last year in her deep red western Minnesota district, has already voted multiple times on the House Rules Committee to block the release of the files.

Her votes angered some in the right-wing activist base that’s dominated Republican politics in her district, including the conservative group Action 4 Liberty (A4L). They’ve warned that the Epstein issue could be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back” for the Republican base.

“Congress’ participation in the Epstein cover-up may come back to haunt them,” A4L said in a post about Fischbach’s recent votes, calling for the congresswoman to face a primary challenge.

Fischbach’s office did not respond to requests for comment, both in person and through her office, and took to social media to blame Democrats, arguing they had several years to release the Epstein files under former President Joe Biden.

Trump followers had seen an opening in his second term to get answers on the powerful individuals who may have been affiliated with Epstein, who allegedly kept a client list as he trafficked underage girls for years. He died while being held in a federal jail facility during the first Trump administration, with an autopsy determining it was a suicide.

The Trump administration — and now the Republican-controlled Congress — has blocked attempts to force the federal government to release its files on Epstein.

Fischbach joined all but one Republican on the Rules Committee last Monday in voting down a Democratic amendment that would have required the attorney general to release the files. The next day, she and the Republican conference blocked a procedural move by Democrats that would have brought the amendment up for a vote by the full Congress.

Fischbach and the rest of the Republicans on the committee also blocked a bill that would have released the Epstein files. Instead, Republicans voted for a nonbinding resolution they put together that similarly calls for the federal government’s release of the files but in an unenforceable way.

Democrats on the committee decried the GOP resolution as nothing more than a “glorified press release” meant to give Republicans cover.

Republicans were hopeful this week of putting the issue behind them. Trump has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony on Epstein, which could conceivably take the matter out of their hands by the time they return from August recess in September.

Johnson won’t bring the GOP resolution to the House floor before lawmakers leave for August recess at the end of this week. He’s canceled all scheduled votes after Wednesday so lawmakers could begin recess earlier than expected and avoid “political games” over Epstein, he said.

Though she handily won her Republican primary and general election last year, Fischbach’s GOP opponent, Steve Boyd, blocked her from securing the party’s endorsement. He was backed by the conservative grassroots.

Boyd declined to comment on Fischbach’s recent votes but didn’t rule out running against her in 2026.

“I haven’t made any final decisions on whether I will run again,” Boyd said in a text message.

Seventh District Republicans have had to wrestle with a conservative base that’s challenged both Fischbach and the former leadership of the local party.

Earlier this year, activists from Otter Tail County helped get Bret Bussman selected as chair of Congressional District Seven. He ousted former chair Craig Bishop, a Fischbach staffer.

Asked to comment on Fischbach’s recent votes, Bussman initially declined before he spoke with the congresswoman first.

He later provided a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune, defending Fischbach and echoing the congresswoman and other Republicans on the Epstein votes.

“Unlike the Democrats’ half-baked amendment, the Republican resolution prioritizes protecting the victims of Epstein’s disgusting acts,” Bussman wrote.