Newly elected Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva arrived in Washington D.C. this week expecting to be sworn in, but was instead left waiting due to Speaker Mike Johnson’s delay. The delay appears to be a result of Grijalva’s intention to sign a petition that would force a vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a move opposed by Johnson and former President Donald Trump. While the House is out of session, Johnson has stated she will be sworn in when the House returns to work, which is dependent on the resolution of government funding.
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Following Howard Lutnick’s account of his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, Senator Adam Schiff suggested Lutnick should appear before Congress. This call for testimony stems from the ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein’s activities. The senator’s statement was made during an interview with Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC. The date of the senator’s statement was October 3, 2025.
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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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In an effort to pressure Senate Democrats, Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled votes for the upcoming week. This move is designed to force Democrats to accept a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown, a tactic previously employed by Johnson. The cancellation of votes is a shift from earlier plans, and comes amid ongoing disagreements over the CR, with Democrats seeking provisions for healthcare subsidies. Additionally, keeping the House out of session delays a potential vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a move opposed by Republican leadership.
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A bronze statue titled “Best Friends Forever,” depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, resurfaced on the National Mall. The statue, which shows the figures holding hands, was originally installed last week and removed before its reappearance. The National Park Service and the White House have not commented on the installation due to the government shutdown. The statue’s appearance follows controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents, and Trump’s prior relationship with Epstein.
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The “Trump-Epstein friendship statue” was back on display on the National Mall Thursday, after being removed a week prior by the U.S. Park Police and the National Park Service. The group “Secret Handshake,” responsible for the installation, said the statue was broken when removed and had to be repaired. Though the group had secured a new permit, they were allegedly blocked by the Deputy Director of the National Park Service, but it was ultimately put back up. The National Park Service has been contacted for comment.
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The American Prospect has obtained thousands of pages of documents related to the New Mexico attorney general’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, including interviews with accusers, land records, and flight logs. These documents reveal allegations of improper land deals and assaults at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, raising questions about the state’s oversight. Although the investigation was ultimately shut down, the documents also detail state investigators traveling to other states and communicating with federal prosecutors. The documents are heavily redacted, but calls for further investigation and transparency from both state and federal lawmakers have begun.
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During a Senate hearing on the Trump administration’s response to crime, Senator Ted Cruz misspoke, urging a call to “stop attacking pedophiles.” This awkward phrasing occurred during a discussion about bipartisan agreement, where he also advocated for an end to murders and rape. While Cruz did not correct himself, he continued on to praise President Trump’s actions. Ironically, Cruz has previously expressed interest in the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child sex offender, though he has also voted against efforts to fully disclose these documents.
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Ted Cruz accidentally urging lawmakers to “stop attacking pedophiles” is, without a doubt, a striking statement, and one that immediately raises eyebrows. It’s hard to imagine this being a simple verbal stumble, especially coming from someone with the legal training and public speaking experience that Senator Cruz possesses. When you consider the context, with the examples he gave of actions everyone should agree on, like stopping murder and rape, the inclusion of “stop attacking pedophiles” is jarring and demands scrutiny.
The immediate reaction is almost disbelief, followed by a deep dive into the intent behind the words. The sheer audacity of the statement, regardless of the motivation, is staggering.… Continue reading
Adelita Grijalva’s historic election as the first Latina representative from Arizona has been met with an unusual delay in her swearing-in ceremony. House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to schedule the ceremony, despite precedents of immediate swearing-ins following special elections, raising questions of potential political motivations. Grijalva intends to sign a discharge petition to release the Jeffrey Epstein files upon being sworn in, and this could be the motive behind the delay as it could hinder Republican leadership’s efforts to prevent the files’ release. House Democrats, including Minority Whip Katherine Clark, have criticized the delay, citing its impact on Grijalva’s constituents and suggesting the delay is directly related to the Epstein case.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood