Overview

• Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva won Arizona’s 7th District special election decisively and is positioned to be the 218th signer on a petition to force a House vote on releasing federal Epstein files.
• Johnson’s office says the House has received the necessary paperwork and will schedule Grijalva’s oath when members return, though no date has been set despite upcoming pro forma sessions on Sept. 30 and Oct. 3.
• The bipartisan discharge petition led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna stands one signature short, a threshold that would compel a floor vote on legislation seeking disclosure of Epstein-related records.
• Backers cite recent precedent of swift swearing-in using unofficial results, noting Virginia’s James Walkinshaw took office the day after his election as Arizona officials report no contest in Grijalva’s race.
• If the House vote is triggered, the fight would move to the Senate, where analysts say vulnerable Republicans could face pressure over whether to oppose the records’ release.