Jeffries Criticizes Trump and GOP Over Epstein Files

On Monday, House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York criticized President Trump and Republican leaders regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. He stated that not releasing government documents related to convicted child sex offenders essentially protects pedophiles.

Jeffries highlighted House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-Louisiana) decision to block incoming Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D), who recently won a special election in Arizona. Grijalva intends to be the key vote on a petition aimed at compelling the Justice Department to disclose unpublished Epstein documents as soon as she takes office.

“The Trump administration and Mike Johnson have a pedophile protection program in place,” Jeffries claimed during a press conference at the Capitol. “Their actions show why they have delayed swearing in Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva in recent weeks.”

Speaker Johnson has dismissed these allegations, arguing that utilizing the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee would be a more effective way to investigate Epstein’s connections. The committee has been probing the matter for several months, already releasing thousands of documents from both the Justice Department and the Epstein Foundation.

Johnson maintained that Grijalva cannot take her seat in the House because it has been in recess since September 20 due to the ongoing government shutdown. He indicated that once the shutdown is resolved and House members return, he plans to welcome Grijalva into the House “with the glamour she deserves.”

However, Grijalva has expressed that she isn’t looking for anything glamorous. She would prefer to be sworn in during the procedural sessions, known as pro forma sessions, which occur every three days throughout the shutdown. In April, Johnson used one of these sessions to seat two House Republicans who won special elections in Florida.

Democrats see this situation as particularly relevant to the Epstein case.

“She was elected in late September,” Jeffries noted. “Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva has yet to be sworn in because she would be the critical 218th vote for a bill that requires the Justice Department to release the Epstein files.”

Epstein died in prison back in 2019 while facing trial for child sex trafficking allegations. Recently, his case has garnered renewed interest, especially during the 2024 presidential campaign. Prominent Trump supporters have voiced concerns about the government shielding affluent and powerful individuals linked to Epstein who might have committed offenses involving minors.

Trump has echoed these sentiments, claiming he would release the documents if he regained office. The appointments of Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general and Kash Patel as FBI director have sparked optimism among some that the files could be released soon. Bondi previously mentioned having Epstein’s “client list” available for review.

Yet, it’s worth noting that Trump had his own past connections with Epstein. After Bondi took over as the DOJ head, she informed Trump that his name was included in a confidential file.

Recently, the Department of Justice issued a statement indicating that a thorough examination of the Epstein case found no evidence to charge anyone apart from Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for similar charges.

This statement outraged many Trump supporters, who felt betrayed. Trump reacted by stating that he “doesn’t need their support” and that the case was considered closed.

In an effort to compel the Justice Department to release the files, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massey (R-Ky.) have sponsored a bill aimed at granting the administration enforcement powers. Since Johnson and Trump oppose this bill, Republican leadership has refused to bring it to the floor.

Khanna and Massey are now pursuing an expulsion petition to bypass this blockade. If they can obtain support from a simple majority of 218 House members, they may force a vote that would override Republican leaders’ objections.

The petition currently has 217 signatures, including four from Republican members.