Trump confronts Potential House Vote on Epstein Files Release
Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure as the House of Representatives nears a vote on a petition demanding the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.The push for openness,gaining momentum with the recent swearing-in of Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva,threatens to expose politically damaging information for the former president.
The petition gained the necessary 218 signatures this week, fueled in part by support from Republican representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, alongside a growing number of Democrats. This advancement follows a concerted effort to secure enough votes, with Democrats accusing House Speaker Mike Johnson of deliberately delaying Grijalva’s oath-taking to prevent the petition from reaching the threshold. Trump himself has reportedly lobbied against bringing the vote to the House floor.
Prior to reaching the vote threshold, Trump employed a strategy of direct pressure on wavering republicans. This included enlisting the help of Florida’s former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel,a former intelligence official,and issuing what sources described as ”vague threats.” Though, this approach reportedly backfired with Representative Lauren Boebert, who became more convinced of a potential cover-up and further solidified her support for the petition.
Representative Nancy Mace shared a deeply personal letter with Trump detailing her experiences with sexual assault and rape, explaining her inability to withdraw her support for the release of the files. She later stated on social media that the issue was “deeply personal.”
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna anticipates that 40 to 50 Republicans may ultimately join Democrats in voting to release the files. While passage in the Senate remains unlikely, and Trump retains veto power, a vote in favor within the Republican-controlled House coudl significantly destabilize his political standing. A Trump ally, speaking anonymously to Politico, likened the situation to “adding salt to a dish,” intensifying existing complexities.
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline leavitt, dismissed the renewed focus on the Epstein files as a “distraction campaign by the Democrats and the liberal media,” arguing it diverted attention from Republican achievements.
The escalating situation surrounding the Epstein files coincides with Trump’s recent signing of a spending package that ended a 43-day federal government shutdown – the longest in US history – and follows signals from the Supreme Court that his signature tariffs policy might potentially be struck down.
