• Rep. Thomas Massie defended his Republican voting record while refusing to support colleagues protecting pedophiles
• The confrontation came from Charles Downs, who works for Trump adviser Laura Loomer
• Massie faces Trump-backed primary challenger Ed Gallrein in May 2026

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie turned a hallway confrontation into a viral defense of his voting record Tuesday, telling a conservative reporter he aligns with Republicans 91 percent of the time but refuses to back colleagues protecting pedophiles or launching foreign wars.

Charles Downs, a correspondent for Laura Loomer Unleashed, approached Massie in the Capitol with cameras rolling, questioning whether the congressman should switch parties given his recent breaks with Republican leadership.

Confrontation Turns Against Questioner

“In the last two weeks, you repeated AOC’s talking points on Venezuela, and Jasmine Crockett has retweeted you,” Downs challenged the Kentucky Republican. “When will you change your party affiliation to Democrat?”

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Massie’s response was swift and pointed. “I thought you knew. I vote with Republicans 91% of the time, and the 9% I don’t, they’re taking up for pedophiles, starting another war, or bankrupting our country.”

The exchange backfired spectacularly on Loomer’s team. After Loomer posted the video claiming it showed evidence Massie “is in fact more of a Democrat than a Republican,” the congressman mocked the attempt on social media. “Imagine posting this attempted ambush and thinking it was a hit on me,” Massie wrote with a laughing emoji.

Epstein Files Drive Republican Rift

Massie’s comment about protecting pedophiles references his months-long campaign to force release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Kentucky congressman co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Democrat Ro Khanna, which passed Congress in November and compelled full document disclosure.

In November, Massie warned Republican colleagues that voting to block the files could haunt them politically. “Donald Trump can protect you in red districts right now by giving you an endorsement,” he said on the House floor. “But in 2030, he’s not going to be the president, and you will have voted to protect pedophiles if you don’t vote to release these files.”

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The bill ultimately passed overwhelmingly, with all but one Republican voting in favor. However, Massie and Khanna have since pushed for a special master to oversee the release after the Justice Department missed multiple deadlines.

Venezuela Criticism Sparks Accusations

Downs referenced Massie’s recent criticism of the Trump administration’s military operation in Venezuela, which captured President Nicolás Maduro. The congressman posted on social media: “Wake up MAGA. VENEZUELA is not about drugs; it’s about OIL and REGIME CHANGE. This is not what we voted for.”

Massie argued the operation benefits oil companies rather than Americans, noting that lives of U.S. soldiers are being risked “to make those oil companies (not Americans) more profitable.” He also suggested the administration coordinated with major oil firms before the attack to arrange billions in capital for developing Venezuela’s reserves without consulting Congress.

This stance aligned Massie with progressive Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, prompting conservative critics to question his party loyalty.

Trump-Backed Primary Challenge Looms

The confrontation comes as Massie faces his toughest reelection fight. President Trump endorsed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and fifth-generation Kentucky farmer, to challenge the incumbent in the May 19 Republican primary.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Massie on social media, calling him a “Third Rate Congressman” and a “Weak and Pathetic RINO” who “must be thrown out of office, ASAP.”

Gallrein raised $1.2 million in the final quarter of 2025, signaling a well-funded challenge. However, Massie entered October with more than $2 million in cash on hand and has survived previous primary challenges.

Republican Reactions Split

Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene praised Massie’s response to Downs, commenting “This is great!” with a laughing emoji. Christina Pushaw, a staffer for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, added: “I cannot believe they thought posting this video would be helpful to their cause.”

Massie also mocked Downs over a voice crack during the confrontation, attributing it to “puberty and a guilty conscience.”

Will Kentucky Republicans reward Massie’s independence or punish his defiance of Trump in the May primary?

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