...
By Marni Rose McFall
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The House of Representatives is set to hold a vote on releasing the Epstein files after a two-month hiatus prevented the newly elected Democratic Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva of Arizona from assuming her role and signing a discharge petition.
After her swearing in on Wednesday, Grijalva became the final signature on the petition, forcing Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold the vote.
Four Republicans and all 213 Democrats in the House signed the petition. Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he would bring a bill to the floor next week that would require the Justice Department to release all its case files on Jeffrey Epstein.
Read More on News
Why It Matters
Epstein, the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, was found dead in a cell at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Though his death was ruled a suicide, it prompted a wave of conspiracy theories due to his well-documented connections to public and powerful figures, including President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails Epstein wrote that reference Trump. These documents have renewed scrutiny over what Trump may have known about Epstein’s crimes. The president has repeatedly denied any knowledge of this and said he ended their friendship years ago.
Estimations of the number of girls Epstein abused vary, with accounts ranging from a few dozen to over 100. The total number of victims may well be much higher. The Epstein files have been a continual problem for Trump. Initially, the White House said it would publish names and evidence about Epstein’s associates, but it backtracked in July, prompting a massive backlash.
...
What To Know
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed the discharge petition and called for a vote on a bill, which he wrote with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California.
That bill would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files in 30 days.
Along with Massie, Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado signed the petition.
On Truth Social, Trump said Democrats were attempting to revive the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” adding, “Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap.”
The same four Republicans who signed the discharge petition have said publicly that they will vote for the release of the Epstein files.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
The Georgia Republican, who has recently broken with the president over his foreign policy decisions, confirmed on X that she would vote to release the Epstein files.
“I honestly believe it’s not only the right thing to do for the victims but it’s also the right thing to do for the country,” Greene wrote on Wednesday. “Americans deserve transparency.”
Lauren Boebert
The Colorado Republican has confirmed that she will vote for the release of the files, telling reporters outside the Capitol that she would not remove her name from the discharge petition. Boebert added that she was a “co-sponsor of the bill” and would “force the vote.”
Nancy Mace
Despite seeming pressure from the White House, the South Carolina Republican has maintained her support for releasing the Epstein files. Mace wrote on X: “I signed the discharge petition. I was one of four Republicans to do so. I stand with all survivors. ... God bless all those who never had a fighting chance. The Epstein vote will be for you too.”
Thomas Massie
On X, the Kentucky Republican shared Greene’s post. He also wrote: “In spite of a last ditch effort by the President to foil the motion, and @SpeakerJohnson’s propaganda, the discharge petition I have been leading just succeeded! In December, the entire House of Representatives will vote on releasing the Epstein files.”
What People Are Saying
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X: “Under full Republican control there were only 4 Republicans that signed the discharge petition for the Massie resolution to release the Epstein files. ...
“Next week when everyone is forced to go on record to vote to release the Epstein files, I expect the number of Republicans to be a lot higher that actually vote yes.”
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects. Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap. The Democrats cost our Country $1.5 Trillion Dollars with their recent antics of viciously closing our Country, while at the same time putting many at risk—and they should pay a fair price. There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!”
Annie Farmer, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers, said in a statement after the emails were released: “The more information that comes out about Jeffrey Epstein, the more questions we’re left with. Survivors deserve more than a trickle of information.”
Representative Lauren Boebert wrote on X: “Together, we remain committed to ensuring transparency for the American people.”
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement: “These stories are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments, and any American with common sense sees right through this hoax and clear distraction from the government opening back up again.”
What Happens Next
The vote on releasing the files is set to take place next week, an earlier timeline than expected.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines