Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Tuesday attributed Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) primary defeat in Kentucky to his push for transparency in the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arguing the loss was a blow against political courage.
"My good friend Thomas Massie lost tonight," Khanna said in a social media video. "I'm angered by the smears on his character. He lost because he had the guts to take on the Epstein class."
Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who had held Kentucky's 4th Congressional District since 2012, was ousted by Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. Gallrein secured about 55 percent of the vote, while Massie garnered 45 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Khanna and Massie had collaborated on bipartisan legislation demanding the Justice Department release all files related to Epstein's criminal network. Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in November, after initially dismissing the push as a "hoax" pushed by Democrats. He reversed course after broad GOP support emerged.
Trump's involvement in the race was a key factor, as he recruited Gallrein to challenge Massie after the Kentucky lawmaker opposed several administration priorities, including the U.S. military operation in Iran. The president's campaign against Massie was part of a broader purge of Republicans who crossed him, as detailed in coverage of Trump's revenge campaign claiming Massie.
Khanna praised Massie's role in what he called "the most consequential and popular piece of bipartisan legislation in recent history." He also noted the support Massie received from younger voters, suggesting a generational divide in the GOP.
"You might not have a home in the Trump coalition, but there is a new generation of populist Democrats, and we welcome you to help us change this country, change the rotten system and have a politics that puts the working class ahead of the Epstein class," Khanna said.
Trump has faced persistent questions about his past ties to Epstein, whom he described as a "terrific guy" in a 2002 interview. Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, but the issue has remained a political vulnerability. The Epstein case has also drawn attention to broader questions about elite accountability, with some analysts comparing the dynamics to the electoral chaos seen in California's jungle primary system.
Massie's loss marks the end of a 14-year tenure defined by his willingness to buck party leadership. His defeat also highlights the power of Trump's endorsement in GOP primaries, even as the former president faces legal scrutiny. The Kentucky primary outcome is a reminder that the "Epstein class" — a term Khanna used to describe powerful figures shielded from accountability — remains a potent political issue.
