Lawmakers pushing to release files tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation are predicting a major victory in the House this week, with a “deluge of Republicans” expected to support their bill, potentially defying GOP leadership and President Donald Trump.
According to The Associated Press, the proposed legislation would require the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, including information on the investigation into his death in federal prison. Sensitive details about victims or ongoing federal investigations could be redacted.
“There could be 100 or more” Republican votes, said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., on Sunday. “I’m hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote.”
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a discharge petition in July to force a vote on the bill. The rarely successful tool allows a majority of House members to bypass leadership and bring legislation directly to the floor.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., previously criticized the petition and disrupted the GOP’s legislative agenda to avoid a vote. Democrats also alleged that the seating of Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., was delayed to prevent her from becoming the 218th signature needed to trigger a floor vote. Grijalva signed shortly after taking the oath last week.
Massie said Johnson, Trump, and others who opposed the effort “will be taking a big loss this week.” “I’m not tired of winning yet, but we are winning,” he said.
Johnson indicated confidence that the House will support the bill. “We’ll just get this done and move it on. There’s nothing to hide,” he said, noting that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has already released substantial information.
The vote comes amid renewed scrutiny after new documents surfaced, including a 2019 email from Epstein to a journalist claiming Trump “knew about the girls.” The White House has accused Democrats of selectively leaking emails to damage the former president.
Trump’s association with Epstein is known, but he has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the case.
Khanna set more modest expectations, hoping 40 or more Republicans would join Democrats in support. “I don’t even know how involved Trump was,” he said. “There are a lot of other people involved who have to be held accountable.”
Massie warned that Republican lawmakers who vote against the measure could face long-term political consequences. “The record of this vote will last longer than Donald Trump’s presidency,” he said.
Three Republicans have already signed the discharge petition alongside Massie: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.; Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo. Greene said transparency is essential. “I have no idea what’s in the files… but that is the question everyone is asking, is, why fight this so hard?”
Even if the House approves the bill, its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain. Massie said he hopes Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., “will do the right thing,” adding, “The pressure is going to be there if we get a big vote in the House.”
