House Now Moves Closer to a Vote on Epstein Files, Pressuring GOP Senators

In a dramatic turn that’s gripping Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to swear in newly elected Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona.

This is a move critics are calling a blatant stalling tactic to prevent a floor vote on releasing long-withheld Jeffrey Epstein investigation files from the Trump administration.

Grijalva’s signature would deliver the decisive 218th endorsement to a bipartisan discharge petition, forcing the House to act on H.Res. 577—a resolution demanding the full disclosure of federal documents tied to the disgraced financier’s sex-trafficking network.

The petition, spearheaded by libertarian-leaning Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and co-led by California Democrat Ro Khanna, has already garnered support from unexpected GOP firebrands like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace.

But with the razor-thin Republican House majority now even slimmer after Grijalva’s victory in last week’s special election—replacing her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, in the heavily Democratic AZ-07 district—the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The Swearing-In Standoff

Johnson’s decision to delay Grijalva’s oath until mid-October—when Arizona officials are expected to fully certify the election results—has sparked outrage across the aisle.

Just last month, the Speaker fast-tracked the swearing-in of a Republican colleague based on preliminary tallies, a precedent that’s now under fire as hypocritical.

“This is nothing short of election interference to shield powerful figures from accountability,” fumed New York Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan, whose own bipartisan resolution is at the heart of the push.

Ryan’s office confirmed the petition is “one signature away,” and Grijalva has pledged to add hers immediately upon taking office.

White House allies and senior House Republicans have ramped up pressure on the four GOP signatories—Boebert, Greene, Mace, and Massie himself—urging them to withdraw their names before the threshold is met.

In a fiery Saturday morning post on X, Greene doubled down: “My name is staying on the discharge petition… I stand with the women, and the women who were raped at 14.”

She accused Democrats of ignoring Epstein’s victims during their prior control of Congress, while insisting “Donald Trump did nothing wrong and he was the only one that helped the women.”

The maneuver comes amid whispers of a broader GOP strategy: tying the delay to ongoing budget negotiations, potentially risking a government shutdown to buy time.

“The GOP will burn down the government before releasing the Epstein files,” one X user quipped, echoing growing online fury.

Fresh Revelations

Adding fuel to the fire, Democrats released a tranche of Epstein-related documents on Friday, naming high-profile Trump orbit figures including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Steve Bannon.

The files, pulled from previously redacted DOJ records, detail Epstein’s web of influence among Silicon Valley elites and political insiders—though none are accused of wrongdoing in the excerpts.

Musk, in a terse X response, dismissed the release as “Democrat desperation theater,” while Thiel’s camp called it “recycled smears.”

Massie, undeterred, told reporters Friday he’s “confident” in hitting the signature mark soon, regardless of Johnson’s tactics.

“Transparency isn’t optional—it’s essential,” he said, framing the effort as a stand against elite impunity.

If successful, the discharge petition would bypass leadership and compel a vote within two legislative days, potentially passing the House on a bipartisan tally.

Senate Showdown

Should the bill clear the House, the real battle shifts to the Senate, where several GOP incumbents face brutal 2026 re-elections in battleground states.

Analysts peg Maine’s Susan Collins as the most endangered, with her moderate stance already drawing primary fire from Trump loyalists and a strong Democratic challenge looming.

Texas’ John Cornyn, a potential Senate GOP leader, is bracing for a crowded primary while fending off progressive attacks in a state trending bluer in urban areas.

Mississippi’s Cindy Hyde-Smith, who squeaked by in 2020, could draw a well-funded Democrat if national headwinds sour.

But the marquee matchup is in Ohio: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s vacant seat after Trump’s 2024 win, now stares down a rematch with former Sen. Sherrod Brown.

A recent Emerson poll shows Husted leading by 6 points, but Brown’s union ties and Rust Belt appeal make it a toss-up.

“This isn’t just about files—it’s about whether senators prioritize victims over party loyalty,” Brown campaign aides told reporters.

Political strategists warn that stonewalling the Epstein probe could haunt these races.

“Opposing transparency on a scandal this toxic?

That’s political suicide in swing states,” said one GOP consultant, speaking anonymously.

The Epstein saga, reignited by Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2022 conviction, underscores America’s fractured trust in institutions.

Victims’ advocates, including those represented in the files, have long demanded full disclosure to expose enablers. As one X post put it: “If there’s nothing to hide, why the panic?”

With the House back in session Monday, all eyes are on whether Grijalva’s constituents—or a surge of public pressure—can force Johnson’s hand.

For now, the files remain locked, but the cracks in the wall are widening.

Also Read: GOP Members Now Believe Trump Is Named First In The Epstein Files

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