House Poised to Force Public Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files After Bipartisan Push

House set to vote on bill requiring Justice Department to publish Epstein records

The House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on bipartisan legislation that would compel the Justice Department to release its files and communications related to financier Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. The measure is the culmination of a months-long effort that overcame resistance from both President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders.

The push began in July when a small bipartisan group of House members filed a discharge petition to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson’s control over which measures come to the floor. At the time the effort was seen as a long shot, particularly after President Trump dismissed the matter as a “hoax.” But growing pressure from rank-and-file Republicans, survivors of Epstein’s abuse and public scrutiny shifted the political dynamics.

Trump and leadership reverse course

In a reversal that cleared the way for an overwhelming House vote, Trump endorsed the bill and urged Republicans to support it, saying he would sign the legislation if it also passed the Senate. House Republican leaders, including Speaker Johnson, likewise relented after the petition reached the critical threshold.

“Let the Senate look at it,” the president said, signaling his willingness to allow the measure to proceed.

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have pressed for release of the files and planned appearances on Capitol Hill ahead of the vote. Their advocacy — along with public interest in Epstein’s wide-ranging connections — intensified calls for transparency about the investigation into his conduct and the circumstances of his 2019 death in federal custody.

How the petition cleared the way

Republicans and Democrats filed the discharge petition in July. The petition only gained the crucial 218th signature after Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in following a Sept. 23 special election, allowing her to sign. With majority support in the 435-member House, leaders moved to bring the bill to the floor this week under a procedure that would require a two-thirds vote.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who sponsored the bill with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), noted the shift in support: “[Trump] got tired of me winning. He wanted to join,” he quipped, as leadership abandoned earlier opposition.

What the bill would do

The proposed legislation would require the Justice Department to publish, within 30 days, all files and communications related to Epstein, including records about the investigation into his death. The bill permits the redaction of information identifying victims or details of ongoing federal investigations, but it would prohibit withholding material solely for reasons of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity — even if those concerns involve government officials, public figures or foreign dignitaries.

Speaker Johnson indicated he would like to see the Senate consider amendments to protect victims and whistleblowers, while Massie warned senators not to undermine the intent of the measure: “If it’s anything but a genuine effort to make it better and stronger, it’ll backfire on the senators if they muck it up.”

Senate outlook uncertain

How the Senate will respond remains unclear. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has been cautious, saying he trusts the Justice Department to release relevant information. Critics note that much of what the Justice Department has previously released under the Trump administration was material already publicly available, and the new bill would require a broader and faster disclosure.

The vote in the House marks a significant milestone for transparency advocates and survivors demanding answers about Epstein’s network and the handling of his case. If passed by both chambers and signed by the president, the bill could open a wide-ranging public record that may yield new information about Epstein’s associates and the government’s investigations.