WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan effort to force the release of government-held records related to Jeffrey Epstein reached a major milestone Wednesday, as Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) became the 218th signatory on a discharge petition compelling House action on the issue. The move ensures that the House must consider a bill requiring the Department of Justice to release unclassified Epstein documents, setting up a potential floor clash in December.
Grijalva signed the petition moments after being sworn in, joining every Democrat and four Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), and Nancy Mace (S.C.). “Justice cannot wait another day,” Grijalva said, adding that the petition restores “checks and balances” amid fresh revelations that Epstein alleged Trump “knew about the girls.”
The bill, sponsored by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), directs the attorney general to release unclassified Epstein-related files while protecting victims’ identities and redacting child sexual abuse materials. White House officials reportedly lobbied Boebert and Mace to withdraw their signatures before the final count, but both stood firm despite warnings that signing would be viewed as “a hostile act to the administration.”
The measure faces steep procedural hurdles and opposition from GOP leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who called the proposal “moot” since the Oversight Committee is already investigating Epstein’s network. Still, Khanna predicted that if a vote occurs, “40 to 50 Republicans” could join Democrats in supporting full disclosure.
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