Politics · November 11, 2026
House petition for new Epstein files bill gets enough support to force vote
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Republican Representative Thomas Massie has secured the 218 signatures required for a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. The legislation seeks to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release remaining files related to Jeffrey Epstein, including over 3 million documents Massie claims are being unlawfully withheld or excessively redacted. The petition succeeded through the support of all House Democrats and four Republicans: Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick (misspelled as Fitzgerald in some reports), Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman. This marks the second time Massie has used this procedural maneuver to bypass House leadership on the issue of Epstein file transparency.
Read the original coverage
- CBS NewsMBFC: Right-Center
House petition for new Epstein files bill gets enough support to force vote
Read at CBS News ↗ - Washington ExaminerMBFC: Right-Center
Massie’s Epstein files discharge petition gathers enough support to force vote
Read at Washington Examiner ↗ - The HillMBFC: Least Biased
Massie secures signatures to force vote on second Epstein files petition
Read at The Hill ↗ - Just the NewsMBFC: Far Right
Massie crosses threshold to force House vote on full Epstein files release
Read at Just the News ↗ - Roll CallMBFC: Least Biased
Another bill to release Epstein files headed to House floor - Roll Call
Read at Roll Call ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- A discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II reached 218 signatures.
- Rep. Thomas Massie led the effort to force a floor vote and bypass GOP leadership.
- The petition was signed by all House Democrats and four Republicans.
- The legislation aims to compel the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- The bill allows members of Congress, state attorneys general, and Epstein survivors to sue the DOJ for non-compliance.
Reported by only some outlets
- Rep. John Garamendi was the decisive 218th signature.
- Rep. Adam Smith was the 217th signature.
- Rep. Ro Khanna co-led the discharge petition effort with Massie.
- The DOJ is allegedly withholding over 3 million Epstein files.
- Massie was defeated in his GOP primary earlier this year by a candidate backed by President Donald Trump.
- A similar discharge petition maneuver was successfully used nearly a year ago.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize the 'lame-duck' status of Rep. Massie and frame the move as a frustration to House GOP leadership.
Centrist outlets tend to focus on…
highlight the procedural nature of the discharge petition as a tool for rank-and-file members to circumvent leadership and emphasize Massie's dwindling time in office following his primary defeat.
Where coverage diverges
Single-perspective coverage; cross-spectrum comparison limited.
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