Massie Defies Trump Again, Teams Up With Democrat To Force Vote On Epstein Files

A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers is teaming to try and lock in a vote on legislation that would force the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files regarding Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who was found dead at the age of 66 in his New York City jail cell in 2019.

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is once again pitting himself against President Donald Trump, joined forces with Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Wednesday on a discharge petition that would force leadership to act on a disclosure bill should it garner signatures from a majority of the GOP-led House’s membership.

“We all deserve to know what’s in the Epstein files, who’s implicated, and how deep this corruption goes. Americans were promised justice and transparency. We’re introducing a discharge petition to force a vote in the US House of Representatives on releasing the COMPLETE files,” Massie said on X. He explained in a follow-up post: “A discharge petition is a procedural tool for bypassing leadership. In 7 days we can start collecting signatures. At 218 signatures, the House must vote on our bill requiring a full release of the Epstein files. If your Representative won’t sign the discharge petition, ask why.”

We all deserve to know what’s in the Epstein files, who’s implicated, and how deep this corruption goes.

Americans were promised justice and transparency.

We’re introducing a discharge petition to force a vote in the US House of Representatives on releasing the COMPLETE files. pic.twitter.com/Ja1xJ7Hiz1

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 15, 2025

The announcement comes after the lower chamber repeatedly shot down Khanna’s legislation this week, first in the Rules Committee in the form of an amendment to an unrelated crypto bill, and then a procedural vote on the House floor that Republicans warned would have given the Democrat minority the power to force votes on whatever agenda items they pleased.

Called the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” Khanna’s legislation demands that the attorney general make available records and investigative materials public within 30 days. Redactions are permitted for certain types of content, including child sexual abuse materials, documents that would jeopardize active federal investigations or prosecutions, and information designated to be secret by executive order.

Trump, who recently vowed to help defeat Massie in his next primary after disagreements on the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and strikes on Iran, has expressed support for Attorney General Pam Bondi and dismissed the uproar within the “Make America Great Again” movement following the DOJ claiming it had no evidence that Epstein had a client list, blackmailed powerful people, or was murdered.

A “new SCAM” from “Radical Left Democrats” is “what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! ”

Still, even as has Trump decried the controversy, he said Bondi can release whatever she believes is “credible.”

Many people remain skeptical that the DOJ is being completely forthcoming, and other Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), quickly signed on to become co-sponsors of the discharge petition. Democrats, who have suddenly taken an interest in releasing Epstein files after fighting GOP efforts in the past, also signaled their support for the measure and requested a hearing on the matter.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in an interview with conservative political commentator Benny Johnson on Tuesday that he supports “transparency” with regard to the Epstein issue and called on Bondi to be more forthcoming to inform the American public what happened after she hinted earlier this year that major bombshells were about to be revealed that never materialized.

If the discharge petition were to prevail, Khanna’s bill would still face long odds, as explained by Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman.

“Massie may succeed in getting signatures. But I anticipate the leadership will make the case – as they usually do – that this is handing the floor to Democrats,” Sherman said on X. “And even if this gets the requisite 218 signatures, it’s subject to a motion to table then a vote in the house. Then the senate can ignore it. If the Senate somehow does pass it — probably won’t happen — Trump would almost certainly veto. And then will there be a veto proof majority? Almost definitely not.”