The fight over releasing the remaining government files tied to Jeffrey Epstein is nearing a climax in the House of Representatives. A bipartisan effort is gathering steam to force a vote that could finally lift the veil on hidden documents surrounding the disgraced financier.
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, have teamed up in a rare display of cross-party cooperation. Their goal: secure enough signatures on a discharge petition to compel the House to vote on releasing all remaining files related to Epstein.
The petition currently has 216 signatures, just two shy of the 218 needed to bring the bill directly to the floor, bypassing party leadership who oppose it.
This push runs counter to the wishes of both the Trump administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson. President Trump has publicly stated he wants to move past the Epstein saga entirely.
Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson is focused on maintaining tight control over the House agenda and preventing any action that might hijack his authority. Yet, despite their resistance, the petition continues to gain traction and could reach the required number of votes by the end of September.
Massie expressed confidence in the petition’s success at a recent press briefing. “We don’t need any additional signatures right now,” he said, noting that once two vacant House seats expected to be filled by Democrats in Virginia and Arizona are occupied, those members are set to sign on as well. “At that point, instead of deciding whether to sign, members will have to decide if they will vote for it or against it.”
These two special elections are pivotal. Virginia’s 11th congressional district is holding a vote following the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly earlier this year. The frontrunner, James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s former chief of staff, is expected to win the reliably Democratic seat. Walkinshaw has already committed to voting in favor of the petition if he takes office.
Likewise, Arizona’s 7th congressional district will hold its special election on September 23. Adelita Grijalva, running to fill the seat once held by her late father, is favored by many and has also promised to back the petition.
This growing coalition reflects a broader desire in Congress to fully expose Epstein’s story. During a recent press conference, Massie and Khanna stood with nearly a dozen survivors of Epstein’s abuses.
Their presence underscored the deep human impact behind what has often been treated as a mere political game. Epstein’s abuse spanned over a thousand victims, with Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime confidante and only convicted co-conspirator, remaining the central figure in the legal reckoning.
If the petition succeeds and the bill passes, the Department of Justice would be required to make public all remaining Epstein-related documents within 30 days, except for files that need protection to safeguard victims’ privacy.
The Justice Department has already handed over 32,000 pages to the House Oversight Committee, some of which have been published. Epstein’s estate also recently delivered a fresh batch of files to Congress, including a 50th-birthday tribute book containing what the White House says is a fake letter from Trump.
Despite progress, the effort faces ongoing challenges. President Trump could attempt to pressure Republican lawmakers who have signed the petition, persuading them to withdraw their support.
Notable GOP figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace have signed the petition. Their alignment with Massie could put them at odds with the White House and Capitol Hill leadership.
Moreover, Speaker Johnson could use parliamentary tools to stall or block the petition’s progress. Though exactly how he might do this remains unclear, it adds another layer of uncertainty to the outcome.
Public interest in the Epstein files remains high. The revelations could shed new light on unanswered questions and expose details about powerful figures who allegedly interacted with Epstein. The House vote now appears not just probable but imminent, as the political landscape shifts.
In summary, the bipartisan effort to compel the full release of Jeffrey Epstein’s remaining government files is gaining unstoppable momentum. With two Democratic seats soon to be filled and growing survivor support, House members are nearing a decisive moment.
While Trump and House leadership resist the move, their influence may be waning as more legislators push for transparency. If successful, the Justice Department will be required to publish the files soon after, providing the public with a clearer, fuller picture of the Epstein scandal.
