A bipartisan group of House members, including progressives and conservatives, employed a discharge petition to force a vote on a bill banning congressional stock trading, a move similar to one used to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. The legislation gained urgency due to concerns about insider trading by lawmakers, with previous attempts to address the issue, such as a bill from Rep. Chip Roy and Abigail Spanberger, stalled under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The current Speaker, Mike Johnson, has faced criticism for restricting votes and aligning with Donald Trump, prompting more frequent use of discharge petitions by frustrated members. While the House vote is now secured, the bill’s passage through the Senate, particularly given former President Trump’s opposition, remains uncertain.
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Representative Anna Paulina Luna initiated a discharge petition to force a House vote on banning lawmakers and their spouses from trading individual stocks, circumventing Republican leadership. This move follows accusations of slow-walking the stock ban proposal and attempting to weaken the legislation, which has broad bipartisan support. The underlying bill, led by Representative Tim Burchett, seeks to prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents from engaging in individual stock trading. This marks the third discharge petition filed by a Republican this year, reflecting a growing trend of bypassing leadership on key legislative matters.
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Following the successful use of a discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Speaker Mike Johnson is considering raising the threshold for privileged motions and discharge petitions. This follows bipartisan efforts that bypassed Republican leadership and led to the bill’s passage, despite opposition from Johnson and former President Trump. The Epstein Files bill, which instructs the Department of Justice to release investigative files related to the late sex offender, unanimously passed both the House and Senate. With more lawmakers breaking rank, and the Speaker not giving an outlet for legislative pursuits, the Speaker may continue to see an increase in discharge petitions.
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Discharge petitions to force a House vote on sensitive matters are always a nail-biting affair, but this one, specifically aimed at compelling a vote on the Epstein files, is generating a lot of buzz. The fact that the discharge petition succeeded, thanks to the pivotal signature of Grijalva, is a significant development. It signifies a collective push, a unified front, to bring the Epstein case into the light. The initial reaction, the collective “Fucking finally!” reflects a widespread frustration with the perceived delays and obstruction.
Now, with the petition complete, the wheels are set in motion. The rules are clear: the House must now move towards a vote.… Continue reading
U.S. Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva is anticipated to be sworn in this week. Her swearing-in was delayed by House Speaker Mike Johnson despite Grijalva winning a special election in September. Grijalva and the Arizona attorney general filed a lawsuit against the U.S. House of Representatives. Johnson claimed the delay was due to the House not being in full session, but Grijalva and her supporters suggested it was related to her pledge to sign a discharge petition on the Epstein files.
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Speaker Mike Johnson stated he would not prevent a vote on legislation to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, despite the House being in recess. This comes as a discharge petition, needing 218 signatures to trigger a vote, is one signature away from success. However, the House’s continued recess, caused by the government shutdown, has delayed the process, and Johnson has refused to swear in the last signatory. While Johnson claims a House committee’s investigation is sufficient, the vote on the Epstein files remains pending.
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Victims of Jeffrey Epstein will be returning to Capitol Hill next week, hosted by a bipartisan group of lawmakers advocating for the release of government files on the sex offender. Representatives Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna, and Marjorie Taylor Greene are organizing an event to garner support for a discharge petition, which requires 218 signatures to force a vote. While the petition currently has 217 signatures, the swearing-in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, expected to provide the decisive 218th endorsement, is delayed due to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to perform the ceremony during pro forma sessions. Furthermore, speculation that the House’s return to Washington may be delayed further complicates the timeline.
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Massie says he has the signatures to force US House vote on releasing Epstein files, and the anticipation is palpable. The news, coming from a community forum in rural Kentucky, signals a potential turning point in the long-running saga of the Epstein files. Massie, who’s been spearheading this effort, believes the results of a recent special House election in Arizona provide the final push needed. With both candidates in that election having pledged support for his discharge petition, he’s confident he now has the required 218 signatures to trigger a vote. It’s a moment many have been waiting for, and the implications are significant.… Continue reading
Democrats are anticipated to gain enough votes in the House to force the release of federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This comes from upcoming special elections where Democratic candidates in deep-blue districts have vowed to sign a petition that would compel the vote. While the push for the bill is led by Rep. Thomas Massie, the Speaker of the House and the White House are discouraging additional Republican support and favoring the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into the matter. Massie, however, argues the investigation is inadequate, accusing the Trump administration of selectively redacting and curating released documents.
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced her strong support for the discharge petition, emphasizing the resolution’s focus on protecting victims and ensuring transparency for survivors. Greene, expressing solidarity as a woman and mother, condemned any cover-up of the alleged crimes. She proudly announced her intention to sign the petition and vote in favor of it when it reaches the House floor. The petition, sponsored by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, requires 218 votes to move forward and currently has 216, leaving the group just two votes shy of getting the petition to the floor.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood