Trump’s Shutdown Gives Republicans Another Excuse To Avoid Releasing The Epstein Files Arrow

Last week, Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva won her special election in Arizona. She came to the Capitol, ready to be sworn in, but instead, Speaker Mike Johnson chose to delay, knowing Republicans were likely to shut down the government - even though earlier this year, two Republicans were sworn in less than 24 hours after their elections. And now, Donald Trump has shut down the government, providing a convenient excuse for Republicans to go on vacation and further delay Grijalva's swearing in. Convenient considering Rep.-elect Grijalva is poised to become the 218th signature on the discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein Files.

In response, DNC Deputy Rapid Response Director Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:

"Rep.-elect Grijalva promised to be the tie-breaker to force a vote to release the Epstein Files. Conveniently, Speaker Mike Johnson delayed her swearing in, and now, Donald Trump has shut down the government and Republicans are on vacation. It's embarrassing the lengths that Republicans are willing to go to avoid releasing the files. What the American people want is simple: transparency and accountability for the victims of Epstein's heinous crimes. But instead, Trump and his inner circle have engaged in a full-scale cover-up to keep the truth hidden. It's past time for them to stop these insulting political games and do what's right - release the files."

Let's remember how we got here: Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna filed a discharge petition last month to force a floor vote that would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein Files. Rep.-elect Grijalva has pledged to sign the discharge petition, which would be the tie-breaking vote and solidify a bipartisan majority to demand accountability and transparency from Trump's White House. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to call the Epstein saga a "hoax" perpetrated by Democrats, and his White House has been stumbling over themselves to cover up the truth and deny the American public transparency and justice for the victims of Epstein's heinous crimes.