Every Arizonan in the House helped pass a measure that would require the Department of Justice to release files regarding the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, though some Republicans urged the Senate to amend it before sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk.
In a stunning reversal over the weekend, Trump — who for months has attacked a small band of Republicans pushing the measure — urged the House to approve the bill, and vowed to sign it if it passes in the Senate as well.
Those in favor of the measure included all nine members of Arizona’s congressional delegation: Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Abraham Hamadeh and David Schweikert, as well as Democratic Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Greg Stanton and Adelita Grijalva, who provided the pivotal 218th signature on the discharge petition to bypass GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, who for months used his control over the flow of legislation in the House to block its passage.
“The American people deserve the truth, survivors deserve justice, and no one — no matter how powerful — should be protected by secrecy,” Grijalva said earlier Tuesday, flanked by some of Epstein’s victims.
None of Arizona’s Republican representatives supported the discharge petition that forced the vote in the first place.
In a statement after the vote, Crane said “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people must provide accountability and transparency.”
He also urged the Senate to amend the bill to protect the privacy of victims and to “avoid unfairly damaging the reputations of those who did nothing wrong.”
The bill already contains language instructing the Justice Department to protect victims.
Even before the vote, Democrats previewed the immense pressure they plan to place on Republican leaders in the Senate to quickly take up the measure and pass it without amendments.
Kelly told the New York Times that if Republicans in the Senate drag their feet, Senate Democrats could push for a “unanimous consent” request to bypass GOP leadership.
Speaking outside the Capitol on Tuesday morning, Kelly called on the public to mount a swift pressure campaign in his chamber.
“We’re gonna need your help on the other side of the Capitol making sure that Senate leadership doesn't delay this any further,” Kelly said.
Hours after the measure passed the House, the Senate agreed to rubber stamp the legislation as passed immediately after it’s transmitted by the House.
-
Republican officials are contesting a decision by Arizona’s top election officer to approve the Arizona Independent Party’s name change a week after the state’s Democrats lodged a similar legal challenge. -
A new bill could make speed limits a thing of the past on rural highways in Arizona for non-commercial traffic during daylight hours. -
The Pentagon is escalating its review of Arizona senator and naval veteran Mark Kelly into an “official command investigation.” -
Sen. Ruben Gallego is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to cancel plans to eliminate tens of thousands of jobs. -
Most of the nine schools — including University of Arizona — did refuse to sign the compact. But Eliza Collins from the Wall Street Journal said ASU President Michael Crow was upset that he didn’t have the opportunity to make that call.
