Overview

• New pieces in Alternet and Raw Story cite Salon’s Amanda Marcotte, who alleges Johnson is using the government shutdown to prevent a House vote on releasing FBI materials tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Marcotte points to Johnson’s refusal to seat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, with the Speaker citing the shutdown even as the Senate continues voting, as evidence of an effort to stall action.
• The reporting highlights a discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie that seeks to force consideration of releasing Epstein-related evidence, with Democrats speculating Johnson wants to block Grijalva from signing it.
• Raw Story notes Johnson has denied the accusations, but the analysis contends his moves reflect a pattern intended to protect Trump from potential disclosures.
• As context, the pieces reference two civil jury verdicts in favor of E. Jean Carroll—awarding $5 million and later $83 million—and describe a Senate exchange in which Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse questioned Pam Bondi about photos of Trump, which she declined to address.