Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in advances House push for release of Epstein files

Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, was sworn in Wednesday, unlocking the support needed to force the House of Representatives to vote on the Epstein cases.

Now having been sworn in, Grijalva is free to become the 218th – and final signatory – to file a discharge motion on a bill requiring the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release its documents on Jeffrey Epstein. If successful, the petition would bring the bill to debate over the objection of the House leadership.

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Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, September 30, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Grijalva, who now holds the seat formerly held by his father, the late Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said signing the petition would be his first act as a member of Congress.

“I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files. It is long past time for Congress to restore its role as check and balance in this administration and fight for us, the American people,” Grijalva said.

Epstein, a former businessman and financier, died in 2019 while imprisoned on sex trafficking charges involving minors. During his career, he built an impressive social circle that included rich and powerful figures like former President Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump, and Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom.

His sudden death, ruled a suicide by investigators, left unanswered the question of whether he used his large social circle to facilitate illegal sexual encounters for some of his contacts.

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Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were both indicted on federal sex trafficking charges stemming from Epstein’s years of abuse of underage girls. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

After disappointing announcements from the DOJ that the investigation was at an impasse earlier this year, lawmakers led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., demanded a congressional vote to force the DOJ to release its documentation on the matter.

Those requests went unheeded by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said the DOJ was already conducting its own internal assessment and complying with Congress’ requests for information.

For Massie and three other Republicans, that wasn’t enough.

Massie joined Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., — and all House Democrats — in signing the petition, missing just one signer from moving it past the necessary threshold of 218.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks with Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna during a press conference with alleged victims of late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on September 3, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Two of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims joined lawmakers in the House chamber for Grijalva’s swearing-in.

“Our democracy only works when everyone has a voice. That includes the millions of people across the country who have been victims of violence and exploitation, including Liz Stein and Jessica Michaels, both survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. They are here at the podium tonight,” Grijalva said.

Johnson said he supports the measure in principle, but believes some aspects of it are poorly written or could provide insufficient protection to potential Epstein victims.

With Grijalva’s support, Democratic leaders believe the petition will be filed sometime in December.

Rep. Jim McGovern, Democrat of Mass., ranking member of the House Rules Committee, noted that Johnson could try to derail his schedule.

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“It should mature in early December. That doesn’t mean the Speaker of the House (won’t) try to pull some shenanigans, but if everything goes our way, early December,” McGovern said.