Sourpuss: Massie Enlists Democrats to Get 218 Signatures to Force a Second Epstein Files Vote Over GOP Leaders’ Heads

Rep. Thomas Massie’s discharge petition on a second Epstein files bill reached the 218 signatures needed Wednesday, clearing the way for a House vote that GOP leaders can no longer block, Politico reported.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) added the 218th and final name, shortly after Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.). The vote could come later this month.

“This morning we reached the required 218 signatures on my discharge petition for Epstein Files Transparency Act II!” Massie wrote on X, adding that he is working with Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Teresa Leger Fernandez and Ro Khanna to get it to the floor soon.

Every Democrat signed, along with four Republicans: Massie of Kentucky, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Roll Call reported. None of the four will return next Congress. Massie lost his primary this year to a Trump-backed challenger.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who backed last year’s effort, did not sign this time.

The bill would let Epstein survivors, state attorneys general, local prosecutors and members of Congress sue the Justice Department for failing to comply with the original Epstein Files Transparency Act, CBS News reported. That law was signed nearly a year ago after a similar petition drive.

It would also let victims view unredacted records that mention them, and require the department to hand state and local prosecutors the unredacted material they need, Anadolu Agency reported.

Massie has accused the department of ignoring the first law. “The Department of Justice continues to unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files that should be released to the public,” he said in a July statement. “In addition, the DOJ is unlawfully maintaining heavy redactions on the files it is releasing.”

The first bill passed the House 427-1 last November and cleared the Senate days later before President Trump signed it, Roll Call noted. Trump, who had once signaled openness to releasing some documents, later called the issue a “hoax.”

Under House rules, a completed petition must ripen for seven legislative days before any signer can call it up. Last time, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) scheduled a vote before that period ran out, calling the outcome a foregone conclusion.

Massie said lawmakers who waited lost their chance to be part of it. “Once you get to 218, you can never sign it,” he told Roll Call. “It goes straight to the floor, and then you can vote for it. But you were never part of the group that actually got it to the floor.”

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