Representative Thomas Massie says he will force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II when the House of Representatives returns next week, declaring that the discharge petition behind the bill will reach the 218 signatures it needs. The Kentucky Republican, who sponsored the original Epstein files law, said on Thursday, November 5, that the follow-up measure would give survivors direct access to their own unredacted records, let state attorneys general prosecute crimes in the files, and give Congress the power to sue the Justice Department if files stay hidden.

Massie, who lost his seat and leaves office on January 3, has framed the second Epstein bill as unfinished business from the transparency fight that produced the first law a year ago.

Key Points

• Massie said on Thursday, November 5, that he will secure 218 signatures when the House returns next week.
• Clerk Petition No. 27 sits at 216 signatures — 212 Democrats plus Massie and three other Republicans.
• Two more signatures are reportedly pledged by Democrats who were ill, expected when the House reconvenes on Monday, November 9, at noon.
• The bill would let survivors obtain unredacted records, let state attorneys general prosecute crimes, and let Congress sue the Justice Department over withheld files.
• The original Act passed the House 427-1 in November 2025 and forced the release of more than 3.5 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

What Happened

Massie announced the plan on Thursday, November 5, saying the House will act as soon as members return. "When we return next week, we'll get 218 signatures for Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which guarantees a vote," he said.

The petition was filed on August 31 as Clerk Petition No. 27 to pull House Resolution 1430 out of the Rules Committee and force it onto the floor. A discharge petition needs 218 signatures — a majority of the House — to succeed.

At 216 signatures, the petition is two short: 212 Democrats, Massie himself, and three other Republicans. The final two are reportedly pledged by two Democrats who were ill and will sign when the House reconvenes on Monday, November 9, at noon.

Even at 218, the bill cannot come to the floor at once. A discharge motion must sit on the Discharge Calendar for seven legislative days, which puts the earliest realistic passage vote between November 20 and December 1.

Background: What the First Epstein Files Act Did

The original Act was the product of a rare bipartisan revolt. It passed the House 427-1 in November 2025 and was signed into law by President Donald Trump, ordering the Justice Department to release its files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The department has since disclosed more than 3.5 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

Even so, survivors and their advocates say the release left gaps. Records tied to individual survivors were heavily redacted, and much of the material was difficult to use in court. The new bill is aimed at those gaps, shifting power from the Justice Department to the people named in the files and to state prosecutors.

Epstein Files Transparency Act II: What the New Bill Would Do

The follow-up bill has three central provisions. First, it would let Epstein survivors obtain their own unredacted records directly, rather than versions with their own names and details blacked out. Second, it would allow state attorneys general to prosecute crimes revealed in the files, opening a second enforcement route beyond the federal Justice Department. Third, it would let Congress sue the Justice Department if the department keeps files hidden, giving lawmakers a legal tool to enforce disclosure.

The bill's co-sponsors include Representative Ro Khanna of California, a Democrat who worked with Massie on the original Act, and Senators Ben Ray Lujan and Jeff Merkley, who are backing the measure in the Senate.

Reactions

Massie has presented the bill as a test of whether Congress will finish what it started: the first law proved disclosure was possible, he argues, and the second is needed because the department still controls what survivors and prosecutors can see.

The petition's signature list underlines the unusual politics of the fight. With 212 Democrats already signed on, the effort depends on a small group of Republicans joining them — and on the two absent Democrats returning to sign when the House reconvenes on Monday. That bipartisan shape has been the bill's defining feature since the original Act, when only one House member voted against it.

Massie is also using his final weeks for a second confrontation, vowing to force an impeachment vote against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth when the House returns.

Why It Matters

The bill matters because it would change who controls the Epstein files. Today, the Justice Department decides what to release and in what form. The new measure would hand survivors their own records, give state prosecutors an independent route to charges, and give Congress a courtroom remedy when disclosure stalls.

Timing matters too. Massie leaves Congress on January 3, so the petition is effectively his last chance to force the issue from inside the House. If it fails, the fight would fall to a new Congress with no guarantee the same coalition holds.

What Happens Next

The House reconvenes on Monday, November 9, at noon. If the two pledged Democrats sign as expected, the petition will reach 218 signatures and the discharge motion will go onto the Discharge Calendar for seven legislative days.

That puts the earliest possible floor vote between November 20 and December 1. The bill would then need to pass the House and clear the Senate, where Lujan and Merkley are co-sponsors, before reaching the president's desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Epstein Files Transparency Act II?

It follows the 2025 Act. It would let survivors obtain their own unredacted records, let state attorneys general prosecute crimes found in the files, and let Congress sue the Justice Department for keeping files hidden.

How does a discharge petition work?

It lets a majority of House members force a bill out of committee and onto the floor, bypassing committee leaders who will not advance it. It needs 218 signatures, and the motion must then sit on the Discharge Calendar for seven legislative days.

How many signatures does the petition have?

It has 216 of the 218 needed — 212 Democrats plus Massie and three other Republicans. Two more are reportedly pledged by Democrats who were ill, expected to sign when the House reconvenes on November 9.

What did the first Epstein Files Transparency Act achieve?

Passed 427-1 in November 2025 and signed by President Donald Trump, it forced the Justice Department to release more than 3.5 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

When could the House vote on the new bill?

November 20 to December 1, because the discharge motion must sit on the Discharge Calendar for seven legislative days after the petition reaches 218 signatures.

Related coverage: Lutnick Epstein Testimony: Commerce Secretary Questioned for Four Hours, Hegseth Impeachment Vote Looms Next Week as Massie Forces House Showdown, and Epstein Files: Democrats Demand Special Counsel to Probe Trump Ties.