Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., made clear Tuesday that while he overwhelmingly votes with Republicans, there are firm lines he refuses to cross — including, as he put it, “taking up for pedophiles.”
Massie’s remarks came after a tense exchange in the halls of Congress with Charles Downs, an employee of informal Trump adviser Laura Loomer, who confronted the Kentucky lawmaker over his occasional breaks with establishment Republican positions. Downs accused Massie of echoing Democratic talking points and asked when he planned to switch parties.
Massie fired back that he votes with Republicans 91 percent of the time and said the remaining 9 percent involves moments when he believes the party is either “taking up for pedophiles, starting another war, or bankrupting our country.” The response quickly went viral after Loomer posted video of the encounter, framing it as evidence Massie is “more of a Democrat than a Republican.”
The congressman was unmoved by the criticism. Responding to Loomer’s post, Massie mocked the attempted ambush, saying anyone who thought the video hurt him had badly misread the situation. He also poked fun at Downs for a moment during the confrontation when his voice cracked, joking that it might be due to “puberty and a guilty conscience.”
The clip sparked reactions across conservative social media. Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene responded with laughter emojis, calling the exchange entertaining. Christina Pushaw, a staffer for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also weighed in, saying she could not believe anyone thought releasing the video would help their cause.
Massie’s comments come amid ongoing tension with President Donald Trump and his allies, who have repeatedly targeted the congressman for refusing to fall in line on certain issues. The most significant flashpoint has been Massie’s insistence on transparency regarding government documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with whom Trump had a past association.
Alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, Massie spearheaded the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed Congress in November and required the administration to release all unclassified documents related to Epstein and his crimes. The move infuriated Trump, who has publicly lashed out at Massie, endorsed efforts to remove him from office, and even mocked him over personal tragedy.
Massie has been blunt with colleagues about the political risks of opposing disclosure. In November, he warned Republicans that voting against transparency could haunt them long after Trump leaves office. He argued that while a presidential endorsement might offer short-term protection in safe districts, it would not erase a recorded vote perceived as shielding abusers.
“Donald Trump can protect you in red districts right now,” Massie said at the time, warning that once Trump is no longer president, lawmakers would be left to answer for their records.
In the end, the House overwhelmingly passed the measure to release the Epstein files. All but one Republican, Rep. Clay Higgins, voted in favor. For Massie, the vote reinforced his argument that principle sometimes means standing apart — even when it invites attacks from within his own party.
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