Rep. Thomas Massie says he will read an Epstein “client list” live on the House floor — and Trump and House Republicans can’t stop him, because floor speech is protected by the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause.

Rep. Thomas Massie has said he is willing to read names tied to Jeffrey Epstein on the House floor, citing constitutional immunity.

Massie floated a specific idea: if victims compiled a list of people they say were regularly in Epstein’s world, the lawmaker would be willing to say those names on the House floor.

Why the Speech or Debate Clause matters

Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution protects members of Congress from being questioned in any other place for any speech or debate in either House. Courts have treated that protection as broad for floor speeches that are part of the legislative process. It is designed so lawmakers can speak without immediate fear of civil suits or criminal prosecution for what they say on the floor.