Representative Thomas Massie’s latest effort to force the release of more Epstein files is gaining traction in the House of Representatives. Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced a bill that would compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release more files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking. Lawmakers have demanded more transparency from the federal government over investigations into Epstein, with Massie last year leading an effort to secure the release of a trove of Epstein-related documents.
But he has been sharply critical of the DOJ’s approach to releasing the files. He has said the DOJ has not disclosed all documents and has accused the DOJ of making unnecessary redactions to the documents it has released. The new effort seeks to shed more light on additional documents.
The Epstein files are court‑ordered DOJ releases of interview transcripts, emails, visitor logs, and investigative materials being published in batches under the law passed by Congress last year. A discharge petition to force a vote on a new bill to facilitate the release of the Epstein files has growing support in Congress over recent days. Newsweek reached out to Massie and the DOJ for comment via email.
Massie announced the new legislation known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act II in July. The bill would give standing to state attorneys general, victims and members of Congress to challenge the DOJ for “failure to comply” with the earlier bill, according to his office. Massie said in the statement that the DOJ has continued to “unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files that should be released to the public.” “In addition, the DOJ is unlawfully maintaining heavy redactions on the files it is releasing.
State attorneys general and victims should have the right to sue the Attorney General of the United States to compel compliance with a transparency law President Trump signed,” he wrote. The bill would create a private right of action for them to “sue the U.S. Attorney General for unlawfully withholding, redacting, delaying, concealing, removing, or failing to publish Epstein-related records.” It would also give victims the right to obtain unredacted records concerning themselves.
It would subject the DOJ and FBI officials to penalties for concealing, falsifying, withholding or misrepresenting files. More than 100 members have signed onto a discharge petition to force a vote on the bill. Here is a look at the members who have signed on as of Friday morning.
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