Republican lawmakers are returning to Washington, D.C., after Labor Day with the dark cloud of the Jeffrey Epstein files waiting for them and no clue where a vote on releasing them will go and what they will reveal.

In his column for The Hill, longtime political observer Juan Williams claimed there are multiple “fires” the GOP –– which has majority control of both chambers –– will have to put out, but none bigger than the Epstein mess that was made worse because Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously stated there was a list of clients linked to the convicted pedophile sitting on her desk.

According to Williams, with Democrats and a faction of Trump’s MAGA base are both demanding transparency, so Republicans will be walking a tightrope.

Pointing out that Republicans “won’t be able to call a time-out” like they did when House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent everyone home early for the summer, Williams added, “The bottom line for congressional Republicans this fall is not governance but survival.”

Of even more immediate concern, as the Epstein problem continues to unfold, is that both GOP-controlled chambers are facing the prospect of a government shutdown looming at the end of September.

“Despite Republican majorities in both houses, the GOP has failed to pass next year’s appropriations, despite allowing government debt to reach record highs. To get a deal done, Republicans will likely need some Democratic votes. In exchange for their votes, the Democrats have demands in hand,” he wrote before adding that Trump ‘s awful polling numbers won’t allow him to rush to their side and provide cover.

Add to that, they face the ramp-up of the 2026 midterms when Trump won't be on the ballot to give them a boost at the polls.

“In the past, his support within the MAGA base shielded them. There is no Trump shield next year, and Republicans are getting dire forecasts for their prospects in the midterms. As Tony Fabrizio, Trump’s pollster, said in July, ‘midterms elections are always a slog’ for the majority party and ‘you are always running against history,’” Williams wrote before noting that the midterm that came in the midst of Trump’s first stint in the Oval Office ended with House Republicans losing 40 seats.

Williams added, “While Republicans try to dig out of their hole, Democrats are poised to gain political momentum. Victories in gubernatorial races and legislatures in Virginia and New Jersey in November would boost morale.”

You can read more here.