Greetings and salutations to you on Epstein Eve

[Jersey Devil]

Tomorrow the House is back in session and and Grijalva will finally be sworn in (I think).

So let's put our heads together to figure out what possible gymnastics will be performed by Mikey to avoid a vote on the Epstein files once a vote is required with 218 signatures on the petition. Or, will Johnson simply refuse to swear her in for some reason that I cannot fathom?

Any ideas?

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I have no idea but Epstein Eve deserves its own song. /nt

[Bettie]

2. He'll threaten one or more of the Republican signers

to get them to remove their names, then he can swear her in and there will be no vote.

If he can't get them to remove their names, he'll come up with some excuse...."it is contrary to his religion to swear in a Latina woman until a year and a day has passed since the election was certified"...."He can't swear her in because his mom said no (comes with note signed by "Johnson's mother&quot ...or just "I don't wanna, so I'm not gonna".

[Jersey Devil]

8. and I'll bet he made sure his Mom didn't sign with an autopen

He is so clever.

[Bettie]

9. I am certain you are correct on that

detail oriented, that's little Mikey Johnson!

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. The petition cannot "force" the DOJ to release the Epstein files

That is a myth.

It only forces the house to take a vote on an unenforceable resolution to release the files.

[Jersey Devil]

5. Yes, we knew that

Which makes it all the more amusing that Johnson is avoiding a vote with every ounce of his body as though he was being dragged by his feet to be tortured in the Roman Coloseum.

[Jersey Devil]

12. PS - runaway train

I think that if the resolution to release the Epstein files passes almost all the Repubs will vote for it so that, in the event the files are ever released, they don't look like a bunch of sick perverts themselves. Then all the pressure is on the Senate to hold a vote on the overwhelmingly passed resolution from the House and Repubs in the Senate likewise stampede to go on record as being against child molestation.

Of course, Trump will never agree to release the files but if congress passes the resolution overwhelmingly there will be a shitstorm like no one's ever seen before (to paraphrase our great leader) demanding the files be released. At that point it won't matter if he releases them or not, he will be deemed guilty as hell and a sick pervert.

[Stargleamer]

4. I predict he will try to delay any vote on it until after the race for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. . .

is decided. Then if the Republicans win, her vote won’t matter. Behn faces an uphill battle

[rso]

6. Epstein

The swearing in of the Tenn. Republican is irrelevant. Grijalva is the 218th. vote, that’s the magic number, an additional Republican changes nothing.

[Stargleamer]

10. I stand corrected

But all Republicans have to stand firm for a 218-217 vote

[Jersey Devil]

11. Yes, but why would they leave their names on the petition and then vote no?

Seems ridiculous to me but I guess stranger things have happened.

Personally, I think that once the resolution gets to a vote by the whole House almost all the Republicans will be stampeding and tripping over themselves to vote "Aye" so that when (or if) the files are ever released they won't look like they were covering up for pedophiles.

[rso]

16. Epstein

But if they vote Aye, they would piss Trump off, and most of them don’t want to do that lest they be primaried.

[rso]

15. Epstein

Yes, the 4 Republicans on board have to hold.

[Jersey Devil]

7. Grijalva's signature on the petition cannot be affected by any special election

Once she has signed the petition (and none of the 4 Repubs who have also signed have removed their signatures before Grijalva signs) there must be a vote. The only way a new Rep member could affect that vote is if it changes the total number of votes it takes ( a majority) to pass the resolution.

[2naSalit]

13. He also has...

Mad Marge gunning for his removal so there's that. And, according to Allison Gill, there are at least 100 House Rs who are planning to vote to release the files.

[Prairie Gates]

14. Tastes like Fitzmas

[debm55]

17. I remember Fitzmas-------bummer.

[wiggs]

18. I've seen nothing from this administration that tells me anything detrimental to TSF has any chance

of seeing the light of day.

I don't expect the Russian govt or N Korean govt to release evidence of criminal or moral wrongdoing of their leaders either.