Four Republicans Break Ranks — House Reaches 218 Signatures to Force Vote on Releasing Epstein Files

Summary: A House discharge petition demanding the Justice Department release its full files related to Jeffrey Epstein reached the 218-signature threshold on Nov. 12, triggering a promised floor vote next week. Four House Republicans joined Democrats to hit the required number, creating a rare bipartisan push for transparency in the long-running Epstein controversy.

How the petition reached 218 signatures

On Nov. 12, Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn into the House and became the 218th signer of a discharge petition that would force consideration of a bill pressing the Justice Department to disclose all government records tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Speaker Mike Johnson said he will schedule the vote for next week.

Who the four Republicans are — and why they joined

• Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.): Massie has been the most visible GOP advocate for full disclosure. He and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) co-sponsored legislation earlier this year to compel release of the government's Epstein files and filed the discharge petition in July to force a House vote.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.): A loyal Trump ally, Boebert was reportedly contacted by White House officials and received a call from former President Donald Trump asking her to reconsider. She met with White House staff but kept her name on the petition, saying she remained committed to transparency.
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.): Historically a staunch defender of former President Trump, Greene said she would sign the petition when it was first announced and rejected White House pressure to withdraw. Greene has publicly framed the move as protecting victims and said she expects more Republicans to vote in favor when the measure reaches the floor.
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.): Running for governor of South Carolina, Mace said she signed the petition in solidarity with survivors of sexual abuse and assault. In September she described leaving a closed-door Oversight Committee hearing with Epstein victims after experiencing a severe emotional reaction to their testimony.

What the discharge petition does and what happens next

A discharge petition is a procedural device that, once it receives the signatures of a majority of House members (218), can bring a bill to the floor for a vote despite opposition or procedural roadblocks. With the petition now at the required threshold, Speaker Johnson has pledged to schedule a vote next week. If the House approves the measure, it would formally press the Justice Department and the administration to release the government's full Epstein-related records.

Why it matters: The Epstein case continues to draw scrutiny and public demand for accountability. The cross-party support for the petition underscores broad interest in transparency about how authorities handled evidence and investigations.

Reporting for this piece drew on coverage from USA TODAY, including contributions from Zac Anderson, Bart Jansen, Joey Garrison and Josh Meyer.