A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is pushing to force a vote on releasing all federal files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite fierce opposition from the Trump administration and GOP leadership.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., filed a discharge petition Tuesday that would compel the Justice Department to release all unclassified Epstein investigation materials within 30 days. The rare procedural move allows lawmakers to bypass House leadership and force a floor vote if they secure 218 signatures.
As of Wednesday, the petition had 214 signatures. In the morning, it had 134 signatures — 130 Democrats and four Republicans: Massie and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina.
The push gained momentum after Epstein survivors spoke publicly Wednesday at a Capitol Hill news conference, with some sharing their stories for the first time. Marina Lacerda, who identified herself as “Minor Victim 1” in Epstein’s 2019 federal indictment, said she was 14 when she met the financier.
One survivor directly addressed Trump, saying “this is not political” in response to his characterization of the effort as a “Democrat hoax.”
The White House warned Tuesday that supporting the petition would be viewed as “a very hostile act to the administration,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson called Massie’s efforts “meaningless.”
“They’re threatening anyone who helps bring true transparency and justice for the survivors,” Massie responded.
The House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 pages of Epstein-related documents Tuesday, but Democrats on the panel said 97% of the material was already public. The committee obtained the documents through a Justice Department subpoena.
Related: Judge Calls DOJ’s Effort to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts ‘A Diversion’
President Trump dismissed calls for more transparency, telling reporters the issue was “totally irrelevant to the success that we’ve had as a nation.”
If the discharge petition succeeds, lawmakers would still need to wait seven legislative days before a vote could occur, with the earliest possible floor vote coming in two weeks.
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