Quick Read
- Congressman Thomas Massie led an unsuccessful effort to defund a 2021 federal law requiring impairment-detection devices in new cars, citing ‘kill switch’ concerns.
- Massie publicly identified Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files, leading to bin Sulayem’s resignation from DP World.
- Massie is facing a Republican primary challenge from Ed Gallrein, who is endorsed by fellow Republican Rep. Andy Barr.
- Gallrein criticized Massie for voting with Democrats, calling him ‘no Republican.’
- Massie countered by emphasizing his conservative rating and criticizing Gallrein’s campaign funding.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, finds himself at the center of multiple high-profile political battles, recently leading an unsuccessful effort to defund a federal law requiring impairment-detection devices in new cars, playing a key role in the public disclosure of a name linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files, and facing a significant challenge to his reelection from within his own party. These events underscore his distinct conservative stance and his willingness to challenge both established norms and members of his own political sphere.
Congressman Massie Challenges Auto Impairment Technology
Representative Thomas Massie, who represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, recently authored a Republican-led effort to strip funding from the Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act, often referred to as the Halt Drunk Driving Act. This federal law, signed by then-President Joe Biden in 2021 as part of a $1 trillion infrastructure package, mandates that new cars eventually include technology to passively detect impaired drivers and prevent vehicle operation. Massie’s attempt to defund the measure was defeated in the U.S. House last month by a 268-164 vote, though another bill seeking its full repeal awaits a committee vote.
Massie has voiced strong opposition to the law, describing it as a ‘kill switch’ that could allow cars to ‘be controlled by the government.’ He argued that such technology could mistakenly deactivate a vehicle, citing a hypothetical scenario where a mother swerving to avoid an animal in a snowstorm might have her car shut down due to a false positive for impairment. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation echoed these concerns in 2024, emphasizing the need for more research, warning that even a 1 in 10,000 false positive rate could disrupt thousands of unimpaired drivers daily, according to The Associated Press.
Supporters of the law, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), see it as a critical step to prevent the more than 10,000 alcohol-related deaths annually on U.S. roads. MADD’s Chief Government Affairs Officer Stephanie Manning stated that the technology exists and simply needs to be deployed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still assessing developing technologies, with a report to Congress expected soon and full implementation likely pushed to 2027 or later, with automakers given additional years to comply.
Massie Pushes for Epstein Files Disclosure
In a separate high-profile matter, Massie has been one of the most vocal members of Congress advocating for the full disclosure of the Jeffrey Epstein files. These documents pertain to investigations into the late financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Massie played a pivotal role in publicly identifying Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the former chair of logistics company DP World, as the individual Epstein had emailed about a ‘torture video.’
Massie, alongside Representative Ro Khanna, first discovered bin Sulayem’s name in unredacted files and released it publicly. Following Massie’s subsequent naming of bin Sulayem on the House floor, bin Sulayem resigned from DP World. Massie took to social media platform X, stating, ‘We will not rest until there is elite accountability for the Epstein class.’ His actions led to a heated exchange with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where Massie pressed for full compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed in November, which ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all relevant documents with limited redactions.
GOP Primary Challenge to Massie’s Conservative Record
Massie’s independent and often contrarian conservative stance has also led to a significant challenge in his reelection bid for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District. Fellow Kentucky Republican, Representative Andy Barr, who is running to replace retiring Senator Mitch McConnell, has openly endorsed Ed Gallrein, Massie’s challenger in the GOP primary. This endorsement marks a notable split, as Barr chose not to support his long-time congressional colleague.
Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL, has been highly critical of Massie, accusing him of frequently voting with Democrats and stating, ‘He’s no Republican.’ Gallrein has asserted that he would ‘never vote with Democrats,’ comparing it to ‘jumping in with al-Qaeda,’ according to WHAS11. Massie has responded to these criticisms by highlighting his own conservative credentials, stating in a statement that he is ‘rated the most conservative Kentucky Congressman by Turning Point USA Action,’ while dismissing Gallrein’s campaign as backed by an ‘anti-Trump billionaire.’
The confluence of these events — Massie’s legislative opposition to federal mandates, his assertive role in government transparency regarding the Epstein files, and the internal party challenge to his conservative authenticity — paints a clear picture of a Congressman who, consistent with his recognized conservative principles, often operates outside traditional party lines, thereby shaping his unique political identity and influence in the U.S. House.