Congressman Thomas Massey, thank you for coming on the Reason interview.

Well, great to be on. Thanks for having me.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that you put your political career on the line to get

these out with the Epstein Files Transparency Act you co-authored with Roe-Conna.

You've been under relentless attack from President Trump ever since,

and you're facing a serious primary challenge with a lot of financial backing because of it.

Did you expect this might happen? And if so, why did you decide this issue was important enough

that it would be worth the cost?

Well, I'm glad you set it up that way because I always find it laughable when people say I'm just doing this for the politics. Look, I'm getting a crap beat out of me politically for doing this

by, you know, the most popular politician in my state, who is President Trump.

Obviously, it'd be a whole lot easier politically to get reelected if I just did what he wanted and ignored the Epstein files and called them a hoax,

but I'm not willing to do that. You know, I've met with the survivors. This is personal to me now.

And so, you know, it's true that my political career is on the line,

my political life, but my own health and well-being could very well be, too. I've upset a lot of

billionaires who obviously aren't of high moral character and have done some really shady stuff.

Was there something that pulled you in? like what first pulled you into this and made you decide this is something I do need to, you know, stake my career on? Well, I saw Pam Bondi hand out the binders to the influencers. And we found out that was a nothing burger.

And then I actually got to meet Pam Bondi in person at the Department of Justice. We went over and had dinner, the Judiciary Committee that I'm on. And my girlfriend at the time, who's now my wife, said I should ask her when phase two will come out.

And I asked Pam Bondi that in person, very politely.

And she basically said there's nothing but child porn left.

Nothing. It's disgusting. And nobody would want to see it.

And at that point, I realized that the Trump administration had undertaken a cover-up and that they had no intention of releasing these files.

And frankly, that's what got my interest up about this.

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