The push to release the Epstein files is set to move forward

November 12, 2025

A bipartisan congressional resolution led by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna aims to compel the Justice Department to release approximately 100,000 files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. The effort uses a discharge petition to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to bring the measure to a vote, and is expected to reach the required number of signatures when newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva is sworn in and signs it. House Oversight Democrats have simultaneously released emails showing connections between Epstein and President Trump, though Trump denies wrongdoing and has called the matter "a hoax.

Who is affected

Jeffrey Epstein survivors and advocates
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA)
Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ)
House Speaker Mike Johnson
President Donald Trump
Ghislaine Maxwell (Epstein's co-conspirator, currently imprisoned)
The Justice Department and FBI
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel
All sitting House Democrats and three House Republicans (Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace)
The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and News Corp (facing Trump's defamation lawsuit)

What action is being taken

Representatives Massie and Khanna are pursuing a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Epstein files
Representative Adelita Grijalva is being sworn into the House
The House Oversight Committee is conducting an ongoing investigation into Epstein
House Oversight Democrats are releasing emails showing links between Epstein and Trump
The White House is lobbying against the disclosure effort
Trump is pursuing a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its parent companies
The federal government shutdown is ongoing at 43 days

Why it matters

This effort is significant because it represents a rare bipartisan push for government transparency on a highly sensitive matter involving a convicted sex offender with connections to powerful individuals, including a sitting president. The estimated 100,000 Justice Department files could provide accountability and answers for Epstein's survivors who have been advocating for justice. The issue has created political tensions within the Trump administration and Congress, demonstrating how the discharge petition mechanism can be used to circumvent House leadership when there is sufficient cross-party support. The outcome could set precedents for government disclosure of sensitive investigative materials and inter-branch accountability.

What's next

Representative Adelita Grijalva is expected to provide the final signature needed on the discharge petition on Wednesday
Representative Khanna said the measure would likely receive a vote on the House floor in early December
If the resolution passes the House, it will move to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it would require a 60-vote supermajority to pass
Khanna expects "40 to 50" House Republicans to vote for the measure

Read full article from source: The 19th