With the swearing in of the House Democrat, Adelita Grijalva, provided the critical signature on the bill to compel the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
With Grijalva’s critical 218th signature, the petition can now proceed through a series of procedural steps that will force a House vote to release the Epstein files.
For the unversed, a discharge petition is a crucial tool at rank-and-file members’ disposal.
Under the arcane procedure, if 218 members of the House—a majority of all 435 districts—sign one, they can force a floor vote in the chamber on anything, even if leadership opposes it.
Although, if the effort gets through the House, it would still have to pass the GOP-led Senate and be signed into law by President Donald Trump, who has dismissed the effort.
After Grijalva’s signature, there's a mandatory 7-legislative-day waiting period before a member can move to bring the petition to the floor.
This 7-day gap is often referred to as the “ripening” period.
On the other hand, House Speaker Mike Johnson has up to two legislative days to schedule a vote.
In a surprise move, House Speaker Mike Johnson will bring the measure to release the Epstein files to a vote next week, exercising his power to circumvent the usual rules.
The Speaker had earlier indicated that if the petition gets 218 signatures, he will allow for a vote.
If they get their signatures, it goes to a vote, said Johnson while speaking to the press last month.
Before a final vote, the bill must first pass through hours of debate and a series of procedural votes on the House floor.
The bill’s final fate would be decided in the Senate, where it would require 60 votes to pass— a high bar that makes its prospects doubtful.