- Discharge petition near 218 signatures threatens GOP leadership by forcing House vote to release sensitive Jeffrey Epstein DOJ files.
- Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva’s delayed swearing-in was pivotal; her seating likely secures the final signature to activate the petition.
- Release could hit both parties — potentially implicating Trump allies and others — and further weaken Speaker Mike Johnson’s control.
The curtain is about to rise on one of the most anticipated — and potentially explosive — congressional battles in years: the forced release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking probe.
As the U.S. government’s record-breaking shutdown hurtles toward resolution, a bipartisan discharge petition poised to bypass Republican leadership has reached critical mass, thrusting Speaker Mike Johnson and his party into a high-stakes reckoning with the late financier’s shadowy legacy.
The petition, spearheaded by libertarian-leaning Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, has teetered on the brink of victory since mid-September, needing just 218 signatures to compel a floor vote.
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That final endorsement is now all but assured from Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat who clinched a special election on September 23 to replace her late father, former Rep. Raúl Grijalva.
Her swearing-in, delayed for seven weeks amid the shutdown chaos, is set to pave the way for the petition’s success — and a vote that could unearth documents long shielded from public view.
Trump Administration Faces Epstein Scrutiny
President Donald Trump’s administration has weathered waves of criticism over the Epstein saga since July, when the FBI and Justice Department issued a stark memo declining to release further records.
Officials cited a lack of evidence for a rumored “client list” and deemed additional disclosures “not appropriate or warranted.” Epstein, the disgraced financier, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions about his elite network.
Trump has brushed off the controversy as a “hoax,” repeatedly charging Democrats with weaponizing it to overshadow his policy wins. He continues to forget he promised to release these files when he was running for president.
Yet pressure has mounted from Epstein survivors and lawmakers across the aisle, culminating in Massie’s defiant push against GOP brass.
In a rare cross-party rebellion, the petition has already secured backing from Massie and three fellow Republicans, a tally that underscores deepening fissures within the majority.
Grijalva’s Delayed Swearing-In Sparks Controversy
The drama has been amplified by the shutdown standoff, which has paralyzed Congress since mid-September and stranded Grijalva in legislative limbo.
House Speaker Johnson, R-La., insisted he wouldn’t seat her until lawmakers reconvene post-reopening, prompting Democratic outcries of political gamesmanship aimed at dodging the Epstein vote.
Johnson has vehemently denied the accusations, framing the delay as a procedural necessity.
A spokesperson for Johnson told reporters Monday that the speaker “has been clear that he looks forward to swearing in Rep.-elect Grijalva once Democrats vote to reopen the government and the House returns to regular legislative session.”
During a recent appearance on the radio show Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith, Johnson swatted down suggestions of Epstein-related foot-dragging.
“It’s another red herring and total distraction,” he said.
He added that the matter was “a moot point” given the ongoing probe by the House Oversight Committee, which he described as “doing a full in-depth investigation and they are delving through the Epstein files and releasing them.”
Johnson emphasized urgency on broader priorities: “I’m anxious to administer the oath to her, and we will, but we got to get the lights turned back on here first and get Congress open and operating for the people so that we can get all this done. We got a lot ahead of us. There’s no other objective here.”
Senate Deal Accelerates Grijalva’s Role
The Senate’s passage of a bipartisan bill Monday to end the shutdown — the longest in American history — has fast-tracked the timeline.
Johnson announced on CNN that he plans to swear in Grijalva before the House takes up the measure, allowing her to affix her signature and activate the petition.
Grijalva, en route to the Capitol, expressed relief and resolve in a statement shared with media outlets.
“I was heading to Washington after hearing through House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and media reports that Speaker Johnson finally intends to swear me in,” she said.
But she didn’t mince words on the ordeal: “This delay never should have never happened in the first place. For seven weeks, 813,000 Arizonans have been denied a voice and access to basic constituent services. This is an abuse of power that no Speaker should have.”
On CNN, Grijalva doubled down: “I would sign the discharge petition as soon as I can because that was a promise and commitment that I made. And I strongly believe it’s one of the reasons why I’ve been in this limbo for so long.”
Johnson’s Leadership Faces GOP Rebellion
For Johnson, the petition’s momentum represents a direct assault on his authority, just as he navigates a fractious GOP conference.
Political analysts warn it could erode his grip at a pivotal moment.
“This is a real test of the power of Speaker Mike Johnson,” said Todd Belt, professor and director of the political management program at George Washington University.
“The Speaker has had a pretty firm control over his party on most issues, and the Discharge Petition will force his hand on the Epstein Files.”
Belt highlighted the broader ripple effects: “No Speaker likes this to happen, because it means that at least a portion of the Speaker’s party has decided to vote against the Speaker’s wishes. This makes the Speaker weaker overall and could encourage more members to vote against the Speaker’s wishes on other issues, including the forthcoming government spending bills.”
He drew a stark parallel: “It is going to be more difficult for the Speaker to lead a party that isn’t cohesive — just ask former Speaker McCarthy.”
Epstein Files Could Rock Both Parties
Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northeastern University, echoed the gravity, noting the Trump orbit’s unease.
“By all accounts, Trump and his Republican allies have dreaded this moment, but it was inevitable unless some Republicans who support the release backtrack.”
Yet Panagopoulos cautioned that the fallout could be bipartisan: “If the files are released and they contain damaging information for the president, the Trump White House may need to be in full-blown crisis mode, but they may not be alone if the files implicate others, including high-profile Democrats. Either way, it appears Americans will not need to wait much longer to find out.”
As the House reconvenes, the Epstein petition looms as more than a procedural hurdle — it’s a litmus test for transparency, accountability, and the raw exercise of power in a divided Capitol.
With Grijalva’s ink set to seal its fate, the files’ unveiling could redefine narratives from the 2019 scandal and beyond, ensnaring figures from Wall Street to Washington in its glare.
Also Read: Republicans Face Growing Backlash as Voters Blame Them for Govt. Shutdown
