Representative Johnson has admitted to being fatigued due to working overtime, even though the House has been out of session since September 19th. Despite the government shutdown and the House not being in session, House committees are reportedly still working on legislation. Johnson has also delayed swearing in Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva, potentially due to Grijalva’s ability to be a deciding vote on the release of the Jeffrey 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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The House of Representatives has blocked Adelita Grijalva from taking her seat after her election in Arizona. Grijalva, who would succeed her late father, threatened to vote in favor of releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, are reportedly trying to prevent. Those seeking the release of the files need 218 signatures on a petition to force a vote, with the Democrats currently one signature short. Grijalva has stated she will sign the petition upon taking office.
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The current House Speaker, Mike Johnson, has seemingly prioritized rhetoric over legislative action, leaving the House out of session for extended periods. This strategy, which began well before mid-September, has drawn criticism from GOP members, despite the caucus’s history of unity. The reduced work schedule has not only delayed legislative progress, such as addressing expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, but also hindered the swearing-in of a new Democratic representative, preventing a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Such inaction, reminiscent of the “Do Nothing” Congress of 1948, is unlikely to be a sustainable strategy.
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The Independent reports on the unfolding situation surrounding a bipartisan effort to release government files related to Jeffrey Epstein, led by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna. With enough signatures secured for a vote, Republican leaders and former President Trump are reportedly attempting to sway the three Republican congresswomen who signed the petition, specifically Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Nancy Mace. The discharge petition’s success is uncertain due to potential procedural maneuvers and the need for Senate approval. Mace’s vote is considered particularly significant, as she has expressed mixed feelings and is running for governor, potentially needing Trump’s endorsement.
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Democrat Adelita Grijalva secured victory in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District special election, which will provide the critical vote needed to compel a House vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein case files. This win follows a discharge petition spearheaded by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, aiming to garner 218 signatures. Both Grijalva and her opponent, Republican Daniel Butierez, had previously expressed support for the petition. While the House leadership, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, has attempted to avoid such a vote, Massie anticipates the House may vote as soon as mid-October. The ultimate outcome remains uncertain due to historical trends.
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The administration’s stance on the Jeffrey Epstein files underwent a noticeable shift after Attorney General Pam Bondi informed President Trump that his name appeared in the documents. Initially, officials promised extensive disclosures, hyping the release of information. However, this changed around the time Trump was told about his inclusion in the files, with officials downplaying the significance of the documents. Sources familiar with the review revealed that the files contained unsubstantiated claims, including those involving Trump, which the Justice Department deemed not credible. This shift in approach raises questions about a potential cover-up, especially given the administration’s evolving statements and the abrupt change in tone regarding the files’ release.
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The article reports on the controversy surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with President Trump dismissing the issue as a “hoax” and defending the decision not to release the documents. While some Republicans and House Democrats are calling for the files to be made public, the president has criticized these figures, labeling them “stupid”. Furthermore, a recent investigation revealed that a video purporting to prove Epstein’s death was not a murder was edited to remove three minutes of footage. The Attorney General is under fire for her handling of the case and the president has stated only “credible” files should be released.
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John Q. Hosedrinker