Overview
- A bipartisan discharge petition led by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie is one signature from the 218 needed to force a vote to release Justice Department Epstein records.
- Speaker Mike Johnson said a floor vote will occur if the petition reaches 218, while the House remains out of session and Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva has not been seated.
- Johnson and GOP leaders contend the bipartisan House Oversight investigation renders the petition unnecessary, pointing to continuing releases that include new materials from the Epstein estate.
- The Oversight Committee says it has published roughly 43,000 pages, deposed former Attorney General Bill Barr, interviewed former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, and is seeking a closed deposition with Bill Clinton.
- Committee members say the shutdown has limited new Justice Department productions on subpoenaed records, leaving key materials outstanding.