The push to force greater disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein-related government records could reach a critical turning point next week, with Representative Thomas Massie predicting he will secure the 218 signatures needed to guarantee a House vote on new transparency legislation. Massie, a Kentucky Republican, says he expects to obtain the signatures required for a discharge petition supporting the Epstein Files Transparency Act II when lawmakers return to Washington Monday. The legislation, co-sponsored with Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, would give Epstein survivors, state attorneys general and other authorized officials the ability to take legal action against the Department of Justice (DOJ) over alleged failures to comply with the original transparency law.
"When we return next week, we'll get 218 signatures for Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which guarantees a vote," Massie wrote on X. "Survivors will be able to get their own records, State Attorneys General can prosecute crimes, and we can take the DOJ to court for keeping critical files hidden." Khanna called the new legislation the “Epstein 2.0 Act,” which he said would “allow state attorneys general to prosecute the pedophiles who abused and trafficked young girls.” The renewed effort follows months of political resistance to the original transparency legislation, with the Trump administration and Republican House leadership initially seeking to prevent a vote. Newsweek has reached out to the White House, Massie, Khanna and the DOJ for comment.
In 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged his Republican colleagues not to sign the initial discharge petition, arguing that the House Oversight Committee would provide more details. The petition would have bypassed Johnson and forced the Epstein files legislation toward a House vote. President Donald Trump also took to Truth Social to attack Democrats pursuing disclosure, accusing them of reviving the Epstein controversy for political purposes.
"This is merely another Democrat HOAX," he wrote, before adding: "It's time to end the Democrat Epstein Hoax, and give the Republicans credit for the great, even legendary, job that they are doing." Trump's comments drew criticism from survivors who argued that the disclosure campaign was about accountability rather than party politics. Epstein survivor Haley Robson directly challenged the president during a September 2025 appearance alongside lawmakers. Trump, I am a registered Republican, not that that matters because this is not political," she said.
"However, I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma." Massie and Khanna continued their campaign, arguing that the committee investigation did not provide the same legally mandated disclosure deadline as their proposed legislation.
"We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes," Massie said at the time. The administration's pressure also exposed divisions among Republicans. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly acknowledged facing significant pushback over her support for the petition, while other Republican lawmakers came under pressure to withdraw their signatures.
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