House Set to Force Release of Epstein Files After New Emails and Trump's Posts

WASHINGTON — The House is preparing to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bill that would require the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files and communications related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The push regained momentum after lawmakers returned from a lengthy break and a new tranche of Epstein emails raised fresh allegations involving former President Donald Trump.

The move represents a rare moment in which Trump has not fully steered his party's response. Lawmakers and survivors say the Justice Department's records could reveal whether other people were aware of or aided Epstein's sex trafficking of minors. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls.

How the measure reached the floor

Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., filed a discharge petition in July to force House consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The petition drew unanimous support from House Democrats and backing from a handful of Republicans. Minutes after Democrat Adelita Grijalva of Arizona was sworn in, she added her name, bringing the total to the 218 signatures required to force a floor vote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would expedite the process. Johnson has denied that he delayed the bill to protect any individual, saying Republicans objected to the wording and that victim protections needed to be strengthened. He also pointed to a concurrent inquiry by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has released roughly 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein's estate.

What the bill would do

The proposed law would compel the Justice Department to disclose all Epstein-related files and communications, including records concerning the federal inquiry into his death. The bill permits redaction of victim-identifying information and material that could jeopardize ongoing federal investigations. It would bar the department from redacting records simply to avoid embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity for government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries.

Several survivors and lawmakers plan to hold a press event outside the Capitol to press for full disclosure as the vote approaches.

Outlook: House, Senate and the White House

The measure is widely expected to pass the House, with additional Republicans signaling support in response to constituent pressure. Its path in the Senate is far less certain; Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and Senate leaders have not committed to taking up the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he trusts the Justice Department to release appropriate materials while protecting victims' rights.

If the bill clears both chambers, it would go to the president, who could veto it. A veto could be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a rare outcome. Trump publicly minimized the issue after his private lobbying against the petition failed, posting that he 'does not care' and urging Republicans to focus on other priorities. Rep. Massie suggested the administration could head off the fight by proactively releasing any remaining federal Epstein files.

Quote: "There’s still time for him to be the hero," Rep. Thomas Massie said, urging full government disclosure.

This vote comes amid mounting public interest and pressure from survivors who want transparency about what federal investigators knew and who else may have been implicated in Epstein's crimes.