A bipartisan push to release Jeffrey Epstein case files has sparked new tensions on Capitol Hill, particularly among House Republicans. Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, along with more than a dozen GOP lawmakers, filed a discharge petition to force a vote that would compel the release of those documents within 30 days.
Supporters argue that the petition includes necessary redactions to protect victims, but U.S House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is raising concerns about potential harm and the petition’s structure.
“Ro and I carefully crafted this legislation so that the victims’ names will be redacted and that no child pornography will be released,” said Congressman Massie responded when told that their petition is going to affect the victims. “They’re hiding behind that we’re trying to get justice for the victims and transparency for America and so you know we’ve redacted things before. We don’t want to hurt the victims. We’re doing this for the victims.”
While Massie and Khanna agree on the need for transparency, they disagree on how to handle Ghislaine Maxwell’s involvement. Massie supports whatever it takes to get her to testify, even leniency, while Khanna opposes any pardon due to her prior perjury indictments and recent private meeting with the Department of Justice.
Speaker Johnson is also pushing back against claims that House leadership tried to delay the process by timing the petition around the August recess. He insists Republicans are committed to releasing credible information while safeguarding victims’ identities. Still, with mounting pressure from both parties and the public, the fight over the Epstein files is far from over.
