A bipartisan discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has secured the 218 signatures required to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, bypassing House leadership and setting up floor action on the legislation. The petition, which includes all 214 House Democrats and four Republicans, was finalized Wednesday after Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) added his signature, fulfilling the threshold needed to compel a vote.
The bill would empower state attorneys general, Epstein survivors, and members of Congress to sue the U.S. attorney general for unlawfully withholding or redacting investigative records related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The legislation follows a similar measure signed into law in late 2024, which mandated the release of Justice Department files on Epstein but has allegedly faced non-compliance from the DOJ, according to Massie.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The Epstein Files Transparency Act II expands on the original law by creating legal recourse for parties seeking full disclosure of remaining unredacted documents. Specifically, it allows affected groups to file lawsuits against the attorney general if records are withheld or improperly redacted, a provision aimed at addressing concerns over alleged foot-dragging by the DOJ in releasing materials.
Rep. Massie has repeatedly criticized the DOJ, stating in a July 2025 press release that the department is "flagrantly and consistently" ignoring disclosure requirements. He alleged that over 3 million Epstein-related files remain unlawfully withheld and that heavy redactions persist in released documents, despite the 2024 law’s mandates.
Bipartisan Support and Legislative Mechanics
The discharge petition’s success marks the eighth time this tool has been used to force a vote in the current Congress, a historically rare occurrence. The mechanism allows lawmakers to circumvent leadership and bring legislation directly to the floor after a seven-day waiting period on the calendar. Once the threshold is met, a signer must formally move the petition to the floor for consideration.
Signatories include Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), alongside Massie. The inclusion of all House Democrats reflects broad cross-party alignment on the issue, though the original 2024 Epstein transparency law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support before being signed by President Trump.
Background and Previous Action
The discharge petition strategy mirrors a successful effort in late 2024, when Massie’s initial petition secured 218 signatures to force a vote on the original Epstein Transparency Act. That bill, which also aimed to compel the release of Epstein-related files, passed Congress and was signed into law, though its implementation has since become a point of contention.
Critics of the DOJ’s handling of the files argue that the agency has failed to meet the law’s requirements, citing delays and excessive redactions. Supporters of the new legislation contend that the legal recourse provided in the bill is necessary to ensure compliance, while opponents—though not explicitly detailed in the sources—may argue that the measure could overburden the DOJ or infringe on national security exemptions.
Next Steps
With the petition now at 218 signatures, the bill is scheduled for a calendar placement of at least seven legislative days before a signer can formally request a floor vote. The timeline for that vote remains uncertain, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would ultimately determine when the legislation is brought to the floor, though the discharge petition’s success removes leadership’s ability to block the measure indefinitely.