Congresswoman Grijalva Statement on House Passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, following the House passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) issued the following statement:

“Today’s vote is long overdue. Survivors deserve justice, the American people deserve transparency, and no one – no matter how powerful – should be protected by secrecy,” said Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. “I’m proud to stand with the survivors whose courage and persistence made this possible. Their voices forced Washington to act, and their advocacy will continue to drive this fight until every file is released and justice can finally be served.”

Prior to the vote, Rep. Grijalva delivered remarks on the House floor underscoring that this legislation is fundamentally about ensuring accountability and delivering justice for the survivors.

This morning, Rep. Grijalva joined Senator Mark Kelly, House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, and Epstein survivors and advocacy organizations at a press conference to call for passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

Her full remarks are included below:

Thank you, and thank you especially to the survivors, family members, and advocates who are here today and who have never given up.

I also want to thank the organizations who are standing with us today: The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA), The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and Ultraviolet 

And the more than 40 other organizations and dozens of survivors calling on Congress to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act

I am not standing here because Congress suddenly found courage — I am standing here because survivors forced Washington to pay attention.

Your voices, your persistence, and your truth got us to this moment.

Today is about something very simple: The American people deserve the truth, survivors deserve justice, and no one – no matter how powerful – should be protected by secrecy.

This vote, this transparency, and this accountability are long overdue.

We now know the thousands of pages released so far are only the tip of the iceberg – and that matters, because without full transparency, we cannot have justice.

Let me be clear:

This is not a Democratic issue.

This is not a Republican issue.

This is a human rights issue – and a matter of justice. 

The momentum behind this did not come from politicians — it came from survivors and the public who demanded answers.

That is why the discharge petition crossed 218 signatures – despite Speaker Johnson doing everything in his power to prevent this from happening, including calling an early summer recess, and delaying my swearing in for seven weeks. 

The public pressure cannot stop now.

There are going to be people trying to frame this as a hoax, a distraction, or a partisan fight.

To them I say: you cannot call it a hoax when real survivors are standing right here.

The truth is the truth — and no one’s name, party, wealth, fame, or title should prevent the truth from coming out.

We don’t know yet what every document will show — but that is exactly why they must be released.

While the House will hopefully pass this legislation today, this is just the first step.

The bill must pass the Senate, the President must sign it, and even then, the DOJ must implement the law fully and responsibly.

So today is a milestone, not the finish line.

No one should ever have to fight this hard for truth, but the survivors’ courage inspires all of us. 

Because sunlight is the best disinfectant, and justice cannot survive in the dark.

Thank you.