A Last-Minute Effort to Block the Epstein Files Vote

A group of bipartisan lawmakers is working to force a House vote on the release of government files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, but President Donald Trump’s allies are making a final push to stop them. The effort has drawn attention as it highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding the case and the role of high-profile figures in the legal proceedings.

As soon as Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who recently won a special election in Arizona, is sworn in, a House resolution introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna will have the 218 signatures needed to compel a vote on the issue. This resolution, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, aims to require the Department of Justice to release all investigative files related to Epstein, who died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

Despite the bill’s bipartisan support, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to call a vote on the legislation, which President Trump opposes. In response, Massie and Khanna introduced a discharge petition earlier this month that would bypass party leadership and bring the bill directly to the floor. The petition is now just days away from securing the necessary signatures, prompting increased efforts from Republican leaders and White House allies to block the resolution.

According to reports, some GOP lawmakers who signed the petition are being pressured to withdraw their names. While the exact strategy remains unclear, sources indicate that there is significant pressure on these lawmakers to reconsider their support. Abigail Jackson, a deputy press secretary for the White House, stated that “Democrats and the media knew about Epstein and his victims for years and did nothing to help them while President Trump was calling for transparency.”

Three of Trump’s staunch allies—Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace—joined Massie and House Democrats in signing the discharge petition. Despite the pressure, Massie reported that his Republican co-signers were “standing strong” against the attempts to sway them. Mace reportedly left a closed-door meeting with Epstein’s survivors in tears, while Boebert said she would not remove her name from the petition.

The situation has become even more complicated as House Rules Committee Republicans have indicated they will not help Speaker Johnson kill the vote this time. Previously, Johnson used the committee to block a similar discharge petition, but this approach may not work this time around.

The bill would require the DOJ to release all investigative files on Epstein, whose death sparked controversy and speculation about whether he was murdered to protect powerful clients. Although officials concluded that Epstein died by suicide, many within the MAGA movement have questioned this conclusion.

President Trump, who had a long-standing relationship with Epstein, has dismissed the effort to release the files as a “hoax” designed to distract from his administration’s achievements. However, the bill continues to gain momentum, with Massie stating that the House could vote on the Epstein bill as early as mid-October.

Once the required signatures are secured, Massie must wait at least seven legislative days before bringing the bill to the floor. House leaders can also delay the vote by up to two legislative days. If the bill passes the House, it will face an uphill battle in the Senate, but it will force Republicans to take a public stance on the issue.

This development underscores the growing divide within the Republican Party over how to handle the Epstein case and its implications for the broader political landscape. As the deadline approaches, the outcome of this effort could have significant consequences for both the House and the White House.

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