Speaker Johnson Accused of Delaying Epstein Files Vote Amidst Grijalva Swearing-In
House Speaker Mike Johnson faces accusations of delaying Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a claim he vehemently denies.
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Overview
- Adelita Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, is the final signatory needed for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would force a Congressional vote on the matter.
- Speculation arose that House Speaker Mike Johnson was delaying Grijalva's swearing-in to prevent the petition from reaching the required signatures.
- Speaker Johnson denied any connection between Grijalva's election and the Epstein files vote, defending the House Oversight Committee's work and refuting claims of blocking her.
- Representative Gallego confronted Speaker Johnson, accusing him of delaying a vote on the Epstein files and covering up for individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Johnson dismissed Gallego's accusations as "totally absurd," maintaining his stance against any alleged obstruction regarding the Epstein files.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, primarily reporting the direct confrontation between Democratic senators and House Republican leaders. They present both sides' accusations and defenses without editorializing, focusing on the event itself and the specific arguments exchanged regarding the government shutdown, the swearing-in of a new representative, and the Epstein list allegations.
"The two sparred, talking over each other, until Johnson looked at the assembled group of reporters, telling them, "This is a publicity stunt.""
NBC NewsArticles (5)
FAQ
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is legislation intended to require the Attorney General to make publicly available all documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein, including unclassified summaries of any redacted or withheld classified information. It aims to provide transparency about Epstein's crimes and associated investigations to the public and Congress while protecting victims' privacy and national security.
Adelita Grijalva, as the final signatory needed for the Epstein Files Transparency Act petition, was critical because her swearing-in would allow the petition to reach the necessary number of signatures to force a Congressional vote on the legislation.
Speaker Mike Johnson has been accused of deliberately delaying Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in to prevent the Epstein Files Transparency Act petition from reaching enough signatures to trigger a Congressional vote. Johnson denies these accusations and calls them totally absurd, affirming no obstruction related to the bill.
Representative Ruben Gallego confronted Speaker Johnson, accusing him of delaying the vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act and covering for individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats including Senator Merkley have criticized Republicans for blocking efforts to release Epstein-related documents, emphasizing victims' rights to the truth.
The Act includes strong protections to redact information appropriately to protect victims’ privacy and national security. It explicitly prohibits redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity, ensuring transparency while safeguarding sensitive personal details of victims.
History
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