Massie's Epstein files discharge petition secures 218 signatures, forcing House vote

Nov 11, 2026

Representative Thomas Massie secured the 218th signature needed on a discharge petition on November 11, 2026, forcing a House floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II. Supported by 214 Democrats and four outgoing Republicans, the legislation enables victims, state prosecutors, and lawmakers to sue Attorney General Todd Blanche over more than 3 million allegedly withheld files. The White House maintains President Donald Trump has been fully exonerated and did more for victims than anyone prior.

Discharge petition signatures and House vote process

▪Representative Adam Smith signed Representative Thomas Massie's Epstein discharge petition
▪Representative Thomas Massie announced that a discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II reached the 218 signatures
▪Representative John Garamendi signed Representative Thomas Massie's discharge petition on November 11, 2026, serving as the decisive 218th signature
▪Four House Republicans—Reps. Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman—signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act II discharge petition alongside 214 House Democrats
▪Under House rules, the discharge petition must sit for seven legislative days before a signing member can move to bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II to the floor

Provisions of Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II

▪The Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II bars Attorney General Todd Blanche from using deliberative process privilege to withhold internal Department of Justice memos regarding decisions on whether to investigate or prosecute
▪The Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II makes it a criminal offense for government officials to withhold Epstein-related files from disclosure
▪The Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II, following the original Epstein Files Transparency Act, grants state attorneys general, Jeffrey Epstein victims, and members of Congress the right to sue the Attorney General to compel disclosure of withheld documents
▪The Epstein Files Transparency Act Part II allows Jeffrey Epstein victims and state prosecutors to inspect unredacted relevant files privately, while explicitly prohibiting victims from receiving identifying information about other victims

White House and Trump response to the petition

▪The White House referred inquiries about the Epstein Files Transparency Act II discharge petition to a social media post by Donald Trump criticizing Representative Thomas Massie without mentioning Epstein
▪White House spokesperson Lauren Bis stated President Donald Trump was exonerated regarding Jeffrey Epstein and has done more for victims than anyone prior by signing the original Epstein Files Transparency Act

Dispute over Department of Justice document disclosures

▪Representative Thomas Massie stated that the Department of Justice is unlawfully withholding over 3 million Epstein-related records required to be released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act of November 2025 and is maintaining heavy redactions
▪The Department of Justice stated it complied with the November 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act by releasing roughly 3.5 million pages of unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein

House Oversight Committee report findings

▪The House Oversight Committee report stated its investigation found no evidence implicating Donald Trump in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes
▪A Republican-led House Oversight Committee report released on November 10, 2026, faulted the Trump administration's handling of Epstein disclosures for excessive redactions and failing to protect victims

Pete Hegseth impeachment vote

▪On November 10, 2026, House Republicans blocked an attempt led by Representative Thomas Massie to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
▪President Donald Trump stated that every House Republican except Representative Thomas Massie voted in favor of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth