Massie inches closer to forcing an Epstein vote with pair of special elections
The article reports that Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is close to securing enough signatures to force a House vote on legislation aimed at fully releasing criminal files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Massie’s discharge petition is just two signatures short of the 218 needed to compel House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to bring the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), to the floor.
Two upcoming special elections are expected to result in Democratic victories, which would provide the final signatures required. One is in Virginia to fill the seat of the late rep. Gerry Connolly, likely to be won by Democrat James Walkinshaw, and the other is in Arizona to fill the late Rep.Raul Grijalva’s seat, likely won by Grijalva’s daughter.
Massie already has three Republican signatures on the petition, including Reps. Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. He anticipates that other Republicans who have been undecided will not sign now that the remaining signatures will come from these elections.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has expanded its investigation into Epstein-related documents, releasing files from Epstein’s estate, including a “birthday book” containing cards allegedly from Presidents Trump and Clinton. The Trump governance denies the authenticity of Trump’s signature. The White House labeled the investigation as a political distraction.
If forced to the floor, the bill is expected to gain additional Republican votes compared to the number of signatories, but it may face challenges in the Senate.
Massie inches closer to forcing an Epstein vote with pair of special elections
Two new Democrats who are expected to be sworn into Congress this month will be able to finalize the push to force a vote for a full release of the criminal files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) discharge petition is merely two signatures short of forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to put Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna’s (D-CA) bill on the House floor for a vote, two special elections will take place this month in which the Democratic candidate will likely be the victor.
Tuesday’s special election in Virginia to finish the term of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly is expected to be won by James Walkinshaw, a Democrat who served as Connolly’s chief of staff and is currently a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member. Cook Political Report has the race rated a “solid D.”
Later this month, a second Democrat is expected to win the special election to fill the late Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva’s seat in the special election on Sept. 23. Grijalva’s daughter is running to finish her father’s term.
Over the last week, Massie has gained 216 of the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on his and Khanna’s legislation regarding the Epstein files, an issue that has gained much traction among the public. Massie has three Republican signatures on the discharge petition thus far, including Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). He said he knew “all along” that the final two signatures would come down to these special elections.
“We knew that all along, so did the White House, so did the speaker, that’s why it was so contentious when we got the first three co-sponsors and they were under so much pressure initially, I don’t think they’ll unsign it,” Massie told the Washington Examiner.
Massie said there are still other Republicans who are unsure, but he does not think they will sign “now that we don’t need them.”
“My pitch to them is we’re going to get there,” he added. “Anyways, you might as well be on the right side of history, while they’re still two slots, but that hasn’t compelled anybody.”
As Massie works to reach 218 signatures, the House Oversight Committee has expanded its investigation into the Epstein files, releasing a slew of documents Monday from the Epstein estate, including the 2003 “birthday book” that includes cards purportedly from President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton. The Trump administration has vehemently denied that the card has Trump’s real signature on it since the Wall Street Journal first reported on the birthday book earlier this year.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the issue on Tuesday in a press conference, saying Democrats are using it as a “distraction” from the “achievements of this administration.”
JEFFREY EPSTEIN 50TH BIRTHDAY BOOK WITH TRUMP NOTE TURNED OVER TO HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
“I did not say the documents are a hoax. I said the entire narrative surrounding Jeffrey Epstein right now that is absorbing many of the liberal cable channels is a hoax,” Leavitt said.
If the bill were to hit the floor from a forced vote, it is expected that more Republicans would vote for the legislation than signed on to the discharge petition. If it passes the House, it will head to the Republican-led Senate, where it could face obstacles as well.
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