Arizona Delegation Unites in House Vote to Release Epstein Files
In a surprising move, all nine members of Arizona’s congressional delegation played a crucial role in advancing a bill that mandates the Department of Justice to disclose files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. This development comes even as some Republicans have urged the Senate to introduce amendments before the legislation reaches President Donald Trump.
In a notable shift over the weekend, President Trump, who previously criticized a few Republican supporters of the bill, urged its passage in the House and promised to sign it if it also passes the Senate. The Arizona delegation, comprising both Republicans and Democrats, showed unanimous support for the measure.
Notably, Republican Representatives Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Abraham Hamadeh, and David Schweikert joined forces with Democratic Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Greg Stanton, and Adelita Grijalva. Their collective effort included Grijalva’s pivotal 218th signature on the discharge petition, which effectively circumvented GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to block the bill.
Grijalva emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “The American people deserve the truth, survivors deserve justice, and no one — no matter how powerful — should be protected by secrecy.” She was accompanied by some of Epstein’s victims during her statement.
Although none of Arizona’s Republican representatives initially supported the discharge petition, Eli Crane later expressed support for the bill’s passage, highlighting the importance of government accountability and transparency. Crane also advocated for amendments in the Senate to safeguard the privacy of victims and protect the reputations of those not involved in wrongdoing.
Current provisions in the bill already instruct the Justice Department to ensure victim protection. Meanwhile, Democrats have made clear their intention to pressure Senate Republicans to expedite the bill’s passage without amendments.
Senator Kelly, addressing the New York Times, indicated that Senate Democrats might consider a “unanimous consent” request to bypass Republican leadership if necessary. He urged the public to join in pressuring Senate leadership to avoid any delays.
Hours following the House approval, the Senate agreed to proceed with the legislation as soon as it is formally received from the House.
