House May Vote on Epstein Files Today: NPR

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

House May Vote on Epstein Files Today: NPR

Today, the House of Representatives is poised to vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a decision sparked by bipartisan efforts. This potential approval follows unexpected support from former President Donald Trump, who now advocates for the release of these controversial documents.

Background on the Epstein Files Vote

The push to release the Epstein files has been primarily led by Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Despite initial resistance from Trump and Republican leadership, the vote is set to move forward after gaining traction in the House.

Trump’s Shift in Position

Last week, Trump met with Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to discuss her stance on the release. However, after the meeting, her position remained unchanged. In a surprising turn, Trump supported the release just before the vote, urging Republicans to approve the measure.

Details of the Proposed Legislation

If the bill passes, it will mandate that the Justice Department release all files related to Epstein within 30 days. Trump has indicated he will sign the bill if it comes to his desk. He acknowledged during a press conference that he is in favor of the release, framing it as part of a broader commitment to transparency.

Recent Developments

The legislative push gained momentum last week when Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) became the crucial 218th signature on a discharge petition. This petition allows for a vote to occur without the need for traditional leadership or committee approval.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has committed to facilitating the vote on the House floor. There were accusations that he delayed Grijalva’s swearing-in to postpone the vote, which Johnson denied, citing the need to resolve other legislative matters first.

Previous Document Releases

This vote follows recent disclosures by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, which released emails and thousands of pages detailing Epstein’s connections. These documents have raised further inquiries regarding Trump’s associations with Epstein prior to the latter’s death in 2019.

Advocacy from Survivors

As the vote approaches, Massie and Khanna are set to meet with Epstein survivors and their advocates. They believe that transparency will help hold accountable those involved in the case. Survivors recently wrote to Congress, emphasizing the need to release all pertinent files, including those related to Ghislaine Maxwell.