The Epstein files have caused a political headache for Mr Trump, who infuriated swathes of his Maga base earlier this year when he reversed course on his promise to release the documents.
Mr Trump was among the rich and powerful who associated with Epstein. Department of Justice (DoJ) officials reviewed the files earlier this year and found Mr Trump’s name multiple times, senior officials previously told the Wall Street Journal.
Pam Bondi, the attorney general, reportedly told Mr Trump during a routine White House briefing in May that he and a number of other high-profile individuals were named in the documents.
Being named in documents related to the case does not imply wrongdoing and Mr Trump and Epstein were known to be friends before falling out in the early 2000s over a real estate deal.
Mr Trump denies any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Mr Johnson could technically delay or block the vote but has said if the petition “hits 218, it comes to the floor”.
The vote does not mean the files will be released – if it passes in Congress the legislation would still need to make it through the Senate and Mr Trump would need to sign it.
David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron, said: “I think politically, it’s bad because there are a number of House Republicans that are going to vote in favour of releasing those files.”
Mr Johnson’s decision to delay swearing in Ms Grijalva was a mechanism to avoid “putting the Epstein files back in the headlines”, Mr Cohen claimed.
