House petition may force vote to release unredacted Epstein files

A House petition aiming to strengthen enforcement of the Epstein Files Transparency Act has reached the 218-signature threshold, potentially forcing a floor vote, WTXL reported. The petition seeks to compel the release of unredacted records related to Jeffrey Epstein's case.

All 214 House Democrats and four outgoing Republicans have signed the discharge petition, which could bring the bill (H.R. 9694) directly to the House floor, bypassing Republican leadership, according to WTVR. The bill would amend the existing Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38).

Epstein survivors expressed hope that a Democrat-controlled Congress will bring more accountability. Survivor Sharlene Rochard told Scripps News, “We need those that harmed us to be held accountable, and we need to see actual people being brought into Congress.”

The petition is co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, WTXL noted. The announcement came a day after the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released a report criticizing the mishandling of the Epstein and Maxwell investigations.

The committee's report cited failures by law enforcement, federal prosecutors, and others close to Epstein that allowed his abuse to continue after his conviction. It also questioned the credibility of testimonies from Epstein’s executive assistant and close employees, according to WTVR.