The release of the Epstein files appeared to inch ever closer on Tuesday after a special election victory in Virginia narrowed Republicans’ majority in the House of Representatives.
Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D) defeated Stewart Whitson (R) in the race to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), who died in May at the age of 75 while still in office.
Once Walkinshaw is sworn in, a petition that could result in a demand for the release of files on the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was once a close associate of President Donald Trump, will be just one signature short of the 218 needed. Democrats and a handful of Republicans have signed it.
“We’re now just one vote away from hitting 218 signatures on the discharge petition on the release of the Epstein files,” Adam Carlson, founder of pollster Zenith Research, noted on X, formerly Twitter.
We’re now just one vote away from hitting 218 signatures on the discharge petition on the release of the Epstein files.
Adelita Grijalva — the Democrat running in safely blue AZ-07 in a September 23 special election — will be the clinching vote.
It’s only a matter of time. https://t.co/FW1VyRjqPn
— Adam Carlson (@admcrlsn) September 10, 2025
Carlson pointed to Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who is running in Arizona’s safely blue 7th District in a Sept. 23 special election, as the likely “clinching vote.”
Grijalva is widely expected to succeed her late father, 12-term Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D), who died at the age of 77 in March.
If Grijalva wins, the petition would reach the critical 218th signature, which would theoretically force the House to act on a resolution that would push the Department of Justice to make the files public. “It’s only a matter of time,” added Carlson.
Even if the measure does pass, it isn’t clear whether the House would take action if DOJ doesn’t comply.
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to downplay his past ties to Epstein, prompting fury from some of his own MAGA base who want the documents unsealed and all links to the moneyman exposed.
