Hakeem Jeffries Accuses House Republicans Of Trying To ‘Cover Up For The Pedophiles’

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused congressional Republicans and the Trump administration of trying to “cover up for the pedophiles” after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) denied a connection between the delay to swear in a newly elected Democratic representative from Arizona and a petition that would force a full House vote on the release of more info about Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

While appearing on MSNBC’s “The Briefing” on Wednesday, host Jen Psaki asked Jeffries about the stalled swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who has previously vowed to sign the discharge petition regarding the so-called Epstein files. The petition is led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

“We all know she’s the 218th vote for the discharge petition,” Psaki told Jeffries in discussing Grijalva. “I assume you do not buy that at all.”

“We don’t buy it at all,” Jeffries responded.

“And we all know this is about the Epstein files and the fact that Republicans on the hill for months have been doing Donald Trump’s bidding and trying to hide these Epstein files from the American people, notwithstanding the fact that the victims have called for full transparency so there can be accountability,” he told Psaki. “And we fully support these brave victims.”

Despite pressure from Arizona lawmakers to swear in Grijalva — who won in a special House election in Arizona’s seventh congressional district in September — Johnson has denied that the delay is related to her impending signature on the petition, saying she will be sworn in when the House is back in session.

Jeffries wasn’t done slamming Johnson and the GOP on Wednesday.

“Mike Johnson and this group continue to cover up for the pedophiles. That’s crazy. And as you pointed out, Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva was going to be a great member succeeding her legendary dad in the Congress, a progressive champion,” Jeffries continued.

Jeffries then said that Grijalva’s commitment to signing the petition is “why Republicans have been on vacation for the last several weeks.”

Watch Jeffries’ appearance on “The Briefing” below.