Trump pressures Boebert, Mace to back down on Epstein files
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Rep. Lauren Boebert, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Rep. Nancy Mace at the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2024. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images
President Trump and his team have been working to get GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Nancy Mace (S.C.) to remove their names from a discharge petition that would force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: On Wednesday, the petition will hit the critical 218 signatures needed to force what would be a politically tough vote for House Republicans.
- Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will be sworn in at 4pm Wednesday. She plans to provide the decisive signature.
- Trump and GOP leadership have opposed the discharge petition, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
- If any GOP member were to remove their name, the petition would no longer have the support needed to proceed to the House floor.
Driving the news: Boebert met Wednesday with Justice Department and FBI officials who tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade her to withdraw her name, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
- Trump was not present at the meeting. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a briefing Wednesday that the meeting happened.
- Mace and Trump had not spoken yet, but they have been playing phone tag for the last 24 hours, a source told Axios midday Wednesday.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has clashed with GOP leadership and the White House in recent weeks, has not been lobbied by the administration, a source told Axios.
What they're saying: "I think they're solid," Massie told Axios Wednesday, referring to the other Republican members who have signed his petition.
- "President Trump can still be a hero by meeting with the victims himself and announcing he will release the files before the vote even happens," he added.
- A spokesperson for Mace told Axios that it's "purely speculation" that Mace plans to remove her name from the petition.
- "Rep. Mace has never indicated any plans to remove her name from the discharge petition," the spokesperson added.
Between the lines: The vote poses a political dilemma for House Republicans. Their base wants to see the files released, but doing so would defy Trump and GOP leadership.
- The petition "will have enough votes for it to hit the floor today with" the addition of Grijalva's signature, a House Republican told Axios, adding that they would trigger a House floor vote.
- The lawmaker said they'd been told that many members "in swing districts are going to support it."
- Speaker Mike Johnson has urged his conference to stay clear of the petition, saying that the Oversight Committee's probe will ultimately yield more information.
What's next: Once Grijalva signs the petition, it is set to ripen for seven legislative days. Then, leadership has two legislative days to set a vote.
- That would likely tee up a vote for early December, after the House returns from its Thanksgiving recess. Though, Johnson could opt to bring it up earlier.
- The legislation would still have to be taken up by the Senate and signed by Trump, each of which is highly unlikely to happen.
Go deeper: Epstein wrote Trump "knew about the girls," newly released emails show
Axios' Alex Isenstadt contributed reporting.
