Massie launches attempt to force vote on Epstein documents release

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., formally filed a discharge petition on Tuesday afternoon that would force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on whether to compel the Trump administration to make public its documentation on the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

If passed on the floor, that vote would instruct the Department of Justice to make publicly available internal communications on its investigation into Epstein, documentation on his death, flight logs connected to Epstein, any individuals connected to his criminal dealings, and more. The bill requires the disclosures within 30 days of its enactment.

It includes a provision that the DOJ may exclude the identities of Epstein’s victims and, in cases where the files contain classified material, instructs the DOJ to summarize any redacted material. Any material containing child pornography must also be redacted.

Massie’s petition must successfully collect 218 signatures before it can force a vote. Once it reaches that threshold, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who would normally control what pieces of legislation reach the floor for consideration, can’t stop the measure.

Can it get to 218? The success of the discharge petition depends on wide bipartisan support. Almost immediately, Democrats signaled a willingness to sign on to the Republican-led effort. Less than an hour after the measure was posted, Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., added his name as a signatory.

McGovern is the ranking member on the House Rules Committee, one of the most senior voices for the party in the House of Representatives. Other Democrats have also pledged support. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, thanked Massie for filing the measure. Raskin at the end of July told Massie he supported his efforts and planned on signing the discharge position.

It remains to be seen whether enough Republicans will decide to force a vote over the objections of their own party leaders. Speaker Johnson has decried the use of discharge petitions as a legislative tool that creates divisions in the Republican conference even though he has said he supports transparency on Epstein’s dealings.

Who was Epstein? Epstein, a longtime financier with an expansive social circle, was arrested on federal charges for soliciting prostitution in 2019 and indicted by a grand jury. But before his case could proceed to trial, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell. He was known to rub shoulders with some of the world’s most famous and powerful figures—people like former President Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump, and even Prince Andrew, a member of the United Kingdom’s royal family.

Even before his death, questions about whether he could have facilitated illegal sexual acts for the rich and powerful captured public’s imagination. Today, questions remain about Epstein’s activities and who may have been a part of them.

Dig deeper: The Trump administration has expressed frustration that Epstein—not its legislative achievements—is stealing the spotlight. And despite his displeasure, several members of the GOP continue to make it a priority. Here’s what some of them told me a few weeks ago.