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◆ Mixed look for JohnsonCongress / MembersCriminal Justice

Epstein discharge petition secures final signature needed to force House vote on releasing files

Johnson opposed the bill but said he would bypass the usual waiting period and bring it to the House floor next week.

Epstein discharge petition secures final signature needed to force House vote on releasing files
Image · CBS News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityCBS News83/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 13, 2026
CBS News
Nov 12, 2025
tl;dr

Rep. Adelita Grijalva supplied the final signature needed to force a House vote on legislation requiring the Justice Department to release Epstein-related records. Speaker Mike Johnson said he would schedule a vote next week, while the Senate’s next steps remain uncertain.

Community verdict

8 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mike Johnson R · LA-4

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 23

● OPEN
  • Readers of left-leaning coverage: 57% good look
  • Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
Votes cast on this page

Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

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Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker who delayed Grijalva’s swearing-in and then said he would schedule a vote on the bill

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Representative who signed the discharge petition

Grijalva's version of this story ↗
Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

South Carolina representative who signed the discharge petition

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President discussed in emails released by House Democrats and in responses to their release

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Kentucky representative who co-introduced the bill and initiated the discharge petition

Colorado representative who signed the discharge petition

Raúl M. Grijalva
Former U.S. Representative (D-AZ)

Adelita Grijalva’s late father and former representative whose seat she was elected to fill

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Former U.S. Representative (R-GA)

Georgia representative who signed the discharge petition

White House press secretary who criticized Democrats’ release of the emails

Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

California representative who co-introduced the bill and discussed its prospects

Part of a bigger story

23 OUTLETS
Johnson Says House Will Vote on Releasing Epstein Files

A petition seeking the release of Epstein-related files reached the support needed to bring legislation to a House vote. Speaker Mike Johnson was involved in the dispute over the vote’s timing. Left-leaning outlets emphasize Johnson’s delay and criticism of his handling of the vote, with some linking the fight to scrutiny of Trump and Republicans. Center outlets mostly explain the petition, vote timing and procedural next steps, while some report allegations over delayed seating or voting and political pressure. Right-leaning outlets foreground Republicans’ claim that Democrats blocked a faster vote to keep the issue alive.

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