A bipartisan effort in Congress to force the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein has reached the required threshold to move forward. The petition gained its final signature on Wednesday after newly elected Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona was sworn in following a seven-week delay.
The move, known as a discharge petition, allows lawmakers to bypass House leadership and bring a bill directly to the floor if a majority—218 members—sign on. All House Democrats and four Republicans have now backed the petition, meeting that number. The measure, titled the Epstein Files Transparency Act, was introduced in July by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Khanna and Massie’s bill calls on the Justice Department to publicly release all documents tied to Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking. The legislation seeks the publication of flight logs, travel records, and names of individuals or entities mentioned in any Epstein case. It would also compel the release of records on the handling or possible destruction of Epstein-related materials, including those concerning his death.
Rep. Grijalva’s addition came just after she was sworn in, and she noted that Epstein survivors were present in the House gallery. “It’s past time for Congress to restore its role as a check and balance,” she said, urging transparency and accountability.
The House has been on break since mid-September after passing a bill to avoid a government shutdown. Some supporters viewed the delay in Grijalva’s swearing-in as an attempt to slow down the petition. With her signature, a seven-day waiting period begins before a floor motion can be made. If successful, a vote could occur as soon as early December.
Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the measure, claiming it fails to adequately protect victims and describing the petition as unnecessary. He cited the ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation, which has already released thousands of related documents.
Hours before Grijalva’s signing, Democrats on the Oversight Committee unveiled new emails showing Epstein’s correspondence about former President Donald Trump. The messages, including one referencing Trump spending time at Epstein’s home, have reignited political debate. The White House dismissed the emails as selective leaks intended to damage the president.
Despite partisan tensions, Khanna remains optimistic, saying he expects strong bipartisan support if the measure reaches the floor. “If we get 40 or 50 Republicans voting with us, that will push the Senate and the Justice Department to act,” he said.
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