You know the saying about politicians? If their lips are moving they’re lying. Well Mike Johnson’s lips are moving and he’s lying, by omission. Or misdirection. Or both
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday he will allow the House to vote on releasing the government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein as soon as lawmakers gather enough signatures to bring the measure to the floor—but Johnson’s continued refusal to swear in a newly elected Democratic congresswoman has ensured that signature threshold won’t be reached soon.
Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., have been pushing for the House to vote on releasing the Epstein files, and are gathering signatures for what’s known as a “discharge petition,” which would force the measure to the House floor for a vote.
The signatures of 218 lawmakers are required in order to force a vote, and Johnson committed Tuesday to the measure being voted on when it hits that number, telling reporters, “If it hits 218, it comes to the floor.”
Johnson denied he would do anything to block the measure from being voted on, saying, “That’s how it works: If you get the signatures, it goes to a vote.”
But Johnson has also refused to swear in Adelita Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who was elected to the House on Sept. 23 but has not yet formally taken office, because the House was adjourned when she was elected, and Johnson has insisted her swearing-in has to wait until the government shutdown has ended.
Grijalva is key to the effort to release the Epstein files, as she would be the 218th lawmaker to support Khanna and Massie’s petition, so Johnson has been criticized for effectively blocking the files’ release by refusing to seat her, though he’s denied that being his intent.
Key Background
Epstein has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 100 women, many of whom were underage, before he was arrested in 2019 and subsequently died in prison. Interest in the late financier’s case has surged in recent months, after DOJ leaders issued a memo over the summer saying
no further Epstein files would be publicly released. The memo marked an about-face for officials like Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, who had long promised to release the files and stoked conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s case. Their sudden refusal to disclose more information sparked a massive backlash from even Trump’s own supporters. House lawmakers, including some Republicans, have taken up the issue of the Epstein files in light of the DOJ’s refusal to voluntarily release more information, with the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee approving a subpoena for the full Epstein files and Massie and Khanna joining forces on the discharge petition.