Jeffries: GOP Blocking Adelita Grijalva Over Epstein Files

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson of running a “pedophile protection program” by refusing to seat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a September special election and would be the pivotal 218th vote on a discharge petition to force release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats say the delay is political, noting Johnson has used pro forma sessions before to seat Republicans and that Grijalva has faced a record delay of more than 40 days. Johnson says the government shutdown prevents normal action, points to an ongoing House Oversight probe that has released some files, and says Grijalva will be seated with appropriate pomp when the House returns. Jeffries tied the hold-up to broader GOP shutdown priorities, accusing Republicans of weaponizing hunger, abandoning ACA tax credits, and putting loyalty to Trump above constituents’ needs. The dispute highlights mounting Democratic frustration and a partisan fight over oversight and public release of sensitive Epstein-related documents amid the continuing shutdown.