A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers is attempting to force the release of long-sealed records tied to Jeffrey Epstein — a move that could create serious friction not only within the Republican Party, but also between Congress and the Department of Justice.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) launched a discharge petition this week aimed at bypassing House leadership to trigger a vote on the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” legislation that would compel the DOJ to declassify and publish investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days.
Congress doesn’t have the power to do this. Aren’t you the guy who obstructs the agenda on “principle” all of the time?
Why didn’t you do this during Trump’s first term, or under Biden?
You and your staff never asked for a briefing on Epstein.
Why not? https://t.co/Q64MKleZHl
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 16, 2025
The proposal arrives amid mounting public suspicion over the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case and is now putting GOP leadership — and President Donald Trump — in the uncomfortable position of opposing transparency on one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent memory.
Massie announced the move Wednesday, writing on X:
“We all deserve to know what’s in the Epstein files, who’s implicated, and how deep this corruption goes. Americans were promised justice and transparency.”
He explained that a discharge petition allows a majority of House members to force a vote without the consent of leadership. If 218 members sign on — a simple majority — it must be brought to the floor.
This procedural move follows multiple failed attempts by Khanna to attach the bill to other legislation. House Republicans have so far blocked these efforts, citing procedural concerns and accusing Democrats of attempting to create a loophole for minority control over the floor.
The bill itself includes safeguards: it allows redactions for child sexual abuse material, ongoing investigations, and national security content. But it would otherwise require Attorney General Pam Bondi to release files the DOJ claims show no criminal conspiracy or blackmail operation — a position many Republicans and Democrats increasingly doubt.
Why did I have to file a lawsuit in 2017, at considerable expense, to try unsealing the Epstein files if Congress could have done so?
I’m so fed up with stunt queens. It’s 2025!
8 years later?
Thanks for nothing, clowns! https://t.co/jCf9I61s9C
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 16, 2025
Despite Trump’s past association with Epstein and public statements distancing himself from the financier after 2007, he has expressed frustration with the renewed focus on the issue. He’s called the controversy a “new SCAM” pushed by “Radical Left Democrats,” criticizing MAGA supporters who are “buying into this ‘bullshit.’” Still, Trump gave Bondi the green light to release whatever she considers credible.
Bondi, Trump’s current Attorney General, hinted months ago that major revelations were coming. Those bombshells never materialized — drawing criticism from both the left and right. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently called on Bondi to be more transparent, telling political commentator Benny Johnson:
“We want answers. The American people want transparency, and they deserve it.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has already added her name as a co-sponsor of the discharge petition, while Democrats — who previously resisted GOP-led demands for release — are now pressing for hearings and full public access.
But even if Massie and Khanna reach the necessary 218 signatures, obstacles remain. As noted by Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman, the bill would be subject to a motion to table, vulnerable to Senate inaction, and almost certainly face a veto from Trump if it ever landed on his desk.
