US House to vote on release of Epstein files next week, says Johnson as email scandal rocks Trump

As the Epstein emails stir a storm, US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he will put the bill compelling the release of government files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on the House of Representatives floor next week. “We are gonna put that on the floor for a full vote next week, as soon as we get back,” the speaker told reporters, as the chamber gathered to debate legislation to reopen the government.

While Johnson opposes the bill, he announced his plan after damning emails came to light that suggested US President Donald Trump knew about the conduct of the late sex offender. Not only this, but it came after the swearing-in of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva. The Democratic representative took the oath to office, seven weeks after she won special elections in late September to succeed her father, the longtime representative Raúl Grijalva, who died in March.

Hence, Grijalva’s swearing in would clear the path to vote on the release of Epstein files as she became the 218th and final signature on a discharge petition that automatically triggers a House floor vote. In her floor remarks on Wednesday, Grijalva said: “Justice cannot wait another day, adelante.”

Republicans remain divided on Epstein Files

It is pertinent to note that under the rules governing discharge petitions, Johnson would not have been mandated to require a vote until early December. Hence, his announcement that the voting will take place next week is earlier than expected.

According to Politico, Republicans are reportedly bracing for “a significant chunk of the conference” to vote for the bill. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican representative, Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican representative, and Rob Bresnahan, a Pennsylvania Republican representative, have all expressed the need to release the files.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019, while facing trial on sex trafficking charges. The calls to release the files became more severe after the US Justice Department and FBI released a memo in which they made it clear that they would not release further details about the case, prompting an uproar for files related to the investigation into his activities to be made public.

It is pertient to note that even if the bill passes the House of Representatives, it would still need to get through the Senate and be signed by Trump himself. Senate leaders have shown no indication they will bring it up for a vote, and Trump has decried the effort as a “Democrat hoax”.

With inputs from agencies.