The movement to force disclosure of government-held Jeffrey Epstein records has reached a critical threshold in Congress.
A discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), joined by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and a cross-section of accountability-focused lawmakers, hit its 218th signature on November 12, ensuring a rare House floor vote to compel the Justice Department to release all files on the convicted sex offender.
The effort, which bypasses opposition from House leadership—including Speaker Mike Johnson—culminated with the signature of newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who had pledged during her recent special election campaign to join the push if victorious.
Grijalva delivered, putting ink to paper after House Democrats released new emails naming former President Donald Trump in communications with Epstein and Maxwell. “It’s past time for Congress to restore its role as a check and balance on this administration and fight for we, the American people,” Grijalva said on the House floor, before signing the petition.
With the petition now satisfied, the House—over the objections of both parties’ power brokers—will hold a vote on whether to direct the DOJ to release every document linked to the Epstein investigation. According to Politico, sources estimate that a vote will likely happen in the first week of December, following the Thanksgiving recess.
Rep. Massie amplified the milestone on X, posting: “In spite of a last ditch effort by the President to foil the motion, and @SpeakerJohnson’s propaganda, the discharge petition I have been leading just succeeded! In December, the entire House of Representatives will vote on releasing the Epstein files.”
Massie and Khanna have also joined forces in a recent CNN interview highlighting the urgent need for transparency surrounding the Epstein investigation. The two lawmakers stressed the bipartisan necessity to hold government agencies accountable for withholding information. This interview crystalizes the mounting pressure for justice on behalf of Epstein’s victims, underscoring the growing public demand for disclosure.
The bipartisan push follows months of mounting pressure from victims, journalists, and outside advocates. Advocates have pointed to repeated leaks, conflicting narratives, and selective editing of Epstein-related documents, urging Congress to restore public trust by finally making all records accessible.
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