Rep. Massie's petition gets 218 signatures to force House vote on Epstein files bill
The bill would let victims, state attorneys general and members of Congress sue the U.S. attorney general over withheld records.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II reached the 218 signatures it needed on Wednesday. Such a petition lets rank-and-file members bypass House leadership and push a bill toward a floor vote. Rep. John Garamendi, a California Democrat, gave the 218th signature.
All 214 Democrats signed, along with four Republicans: Massie, Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman and Brian Fitzpatrick. The bill would let state attorneys general, victims and members of take the general to court over Epstein records they say are unlawfully held back or redacted. Roll Call and the Washington Examiner report it would also give victims access to unredacted records about themselves.
Massie says the still withholds over 3 million files and keeps heavy redactions on others. The petition must sit at least seven legislative days before a signer can move on it. ABC News reports floor action would come after the Thanksgiving recess, potentially as early as Dec. 2 or 3.
Newsweek notes the bill would still need to clear the and be signed by President Trump. Axios says passage is not guaranteed. Massie lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger and leaves Congress in January.
- 218 signaturesneeded and reached on Massie's discharge petitionABC News
- 214Democrats who signed, alongside four RepublicansAxios
- over 3 millionEpstein files Massie says the Justice Department still withholdsCBS News
- 427-1House vote on the original Epstein bill in November 2025Axios
- nearly 3.5 million pagespages the Justice Department announced in January it had released, per AxiosAxios
Three sides of the story
13 news outlets reported this
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Liberal4 outlets
Massie's new Epstein push and the path ahead
ABC News opens with the 218 signatures and walks through what comes next. A signer must wait at least seven legislative days to offer a motion, the speaker then has two legislative days to act, and floor action would come after Thanksgiving recess. It notes discharge petitions have succeeded eight times in the 119th Congress.
Axios calls Massie an "outgoing Trump foe" and links it to the day after colleagues' rejection of his bid to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It says Trump helped drive Massie out by backing a , and that survivors and lawmakers accuse the administration of withholding records. Axios adds that the White House and Speaker Mike Johnson's offices had not commented and that passage is not guaranteed.
CBS News reports Massie's accusation that the Justice Department is "flagrantly and consistently" ignoring the law. It quotes his July statement that the department continues to "unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files."
Center5 outlets
A bipartisan petition win with an uncertain path
Newsweek calls it a bipartisan victory for Massie and lists when each Republican signed: Mace on Sept. 1, Norman on Sept. 14, Fitzpatrick on Sept. 16. It reports that Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on Oversight Committee, signed and promised public hearings. The White House, asked for comment, pointed Newsweek to a Truth Social post by Trump that did not mention Epstein.
Roll Call centers on Massie's final weeks in Congress and quotes his pitch to colleagues: "They could be a hero if they sign it." It notes Rep. Lauren Boebert backed the first effort but did not sign this time. The Hill reports Massie's announcement of the 218 signatures, quoting his post on social media.
The Wall Street Journal's headline says lawmakers force a new vote to let survivors and states sue, and describes a tight deadline and an uncertain path to law. Newsweek adds the bill would still need Senate passage and Trump's signature.
- Newsweek: Short List of Republicans Joining Thomas Massie to Force Epstein Files Vote
- Roll Call: Another bill to release Epstein files headed to House floor
- The Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers force new vote on Epstein files, seeking to let survivors and states sue over records withheld by the Justice Department
- The Hill: Massie secures signatures to force vote on second Epstein files petition
Conservative4 outlets
What the bill would force Justice to release
The Washington Examiner details what the bill would do. It would let state attorneys general, alleged survivors and members of Congress sue the attorney general, hand alleged victims unredacted records about themselves, and bar Attorney General Todd Blanche from using "deliberative process privilege." It quotes Massie telling CNN that internal memos on whether to prosecute are "central to this whole thing."
The Examiner says Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna can call a vote after seven legislative days. It adds that they were not satisfied after the first law led to millions of files being released. Just the News headlines that Massie "crosses threshold" for a vote on a "full" release.
It cites CBS News on the four Republicans joining all Democrats and says Massie accuses the Justice Department of both withholding and heavily redacting files. The Washington Times reports that enough members have signed to force consideration of a bill authorizing lawsuits to compel release of withheld Epstein records.
- Washington Examiner: Massie’s Epstein files discharge petition gathers enough support to force vote on bill
- Just the News: Massie crosses threshold to force House vote on full Epstein files release
- The Washington Times: Congressional petition to force vote on Epstein files bill succeeds
Which side made the stronger case?
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All sources: 15 articles from 13 outlets
Liberal (4)
- ABC News: Discharge petition on 2nd Epstein files bill secures 218 signatures
- Axios: Outgoing Trump foe Massie forces new Epstein files showdown
- CBS News: Petition for new Epstein files bill gets enough support for vote
- The New Republic: Massie Trolls Mike Johnson for “Crashing Out” Over Epstein Files Act
Center (5)
- Forbes: New Epstein Files Bill Has Enough Signatures To Force A House Vote, Rep. Massie Says
- Newsweek: Short List of Republicans Joining Thomas Massie to Force Epstein Files Vote
- Roll Call: Another bill to release Epstein files headed to House floor
- The Hill: Massie secures signatures to force vote on second Epstein files petition
- The Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers force new vote on Epstein files, seeking to let survivors and states sue over records withheld by the Justice Department
Conservative (6)
- Just the News: Massie crosses threshold to force House vote on full Epstein files release
- Just the News: Massie crosses threshold to force House vote on full Epstein files release
- The Epoch Times: Massie Pushes for Vote on Epstein Records Bill
- The Washington Times: Shutout: Justice Department goes 0-for-28 in noncitizen voter list lawsuits
- The Washington Times: Congressional petition to force vote on Epstein files bill succeeds
- Washington Examiner: Massie’s Epstein files discharge petition gathers enough support to force vote on bill
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