House Speaker of Delaying Vote on Epstein Files

Blue Press Journal – As the threat of a government shutdown draws near, Democrats are accusing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of intentionally keeping the House of Representatives out of session to avoid a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The House had been scheduled to vote on Monday and Tuesday, but Johnson canceled the votes, citing the need to pressure Senate Democrats to accept a government funding bill passed by the House earlier this month.

However, Democrats argue that the real motive behind the delay is to prevent a vote on the Epstein files, which could potentially embarrass high-ranking government officials and politicians. The files, related to the Justice Department’s investigation into the late sex trafficker, have been the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation.

The delay in voting is also holding up the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat who won a special election last week to fill her late father’s Arizona seat. Grijalva’s presence in the House would provide the crucial 218th signature on a “discharge petition” that would force a vote on legislation to release the Epstein files.

Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the No. 2 Democrat in the House, wrote a scathing letter to Johnson on Monday, accusing him of depriving Grijalva’s constituents of representation and questioning the motive behind the delay. “Any delay in swearing in Representative-elect Grijalva unnecessarily deprives her constituents of representation and calls into question if the motive behind the delay is to further avoid the release of the Epstein files,” Clark wrote.