Unveiled tool potentially compelling Trump to disclose Epstein documents
In the heart of mid-July 2025, a significant discharge petition is actively circulating in the House of Representatives, aiming to compel a vote on the release of all government files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. This procedural move, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), seeks to bypass House leadership and force a vote once it gathers 218 signatures, representing a majority of the House members[1].
The bipartisan sponsorship of the petition, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), aims to make public all files, including those related to investigations, settlements, immunity deals, and communications concerning Epstein and his associates[1][4].
The growing concern among Republican members about the potential political implications of the discharge petition is evident, with many fearing being forced into a challenging vote. However, the exact number of Republican signatories remains undisclosed publicly[5].
The initiative has garnered public attention and advocacy support, urging all representatives to back transparency on this issue[2]. Despite President Donald Trump's attempts to quell the Epstein fervour within his party, the discharge petition could gain momentum.
Discharge petitions, historically, have led to a vote on the desired measure or similar measures around 8% of the time. However, the mere threat of a discharge petition can pressure leaders to act in one way or another[3]. If six Republicans join all 212 House Democrats on the petition, they could force a vote.
The Epstein documents could animate lawmakers to take the drastic step of forcing a vote. The number of Republicans supporting the underlying bill is greater than the number supporting the discharge petition, at least for now. Two other Republicans, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Eric Burlison of Missouri, have publicly stated they will sign the petition.
The discharge petition will serve as a test to determine just how serious Republicans are about obtaining more information about Epstein. The administration's handling of the Epstein matter has been a subject of controversy, with a Quinnipiac University poll showing nearly as many Republicans disapproving of the administration's handling of the matter as approving[6]. A CNN poll also showed 40% of Republicans were "dissatisfied" with the government's disclosures in the Epstein case[7].
The threat of embarrassment, by making it appear that Trump is not in control of his party, could spur the administration to release more information. However, Trump's Justice Department has published an unsigned memo concluding that Epstein had killed himself and no so-called client list existed[8].
This discharge petition is a much more severe undertaking than the proxy voting proposal, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the urgency for transparency. The House could take other actions, such as a vote on a partial release or an investigation, to quell the dissent. Regardless, the discharge petition remains a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case.
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2043 [2] https://www.change.org/p/house-of-representatives-release-all-jeffrey-epstein-files [3] https://www.brookings.edu/research/how-a-discharge-petition-works/ [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/14/us/politics/jeffrey-epstein-files-congress.html [5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/15/epstein-files-discharge-petition-gains-momentum/ [6] https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-findings/poll-of-the-week-americas-view-of-the-epstein-case/ [7] https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/01/politics/gop-epstein-case-polling/index.html [8] https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1256841/download
- The Epstein Files Transparency Act, with bipartisan sponsorship from Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, aims to make public all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, including policy-and-legislation, general news, and crime-and-justice matters, bypassing House leadership and forcing a vote once it gathers 218 signatures.
- Despite President Donald Trump's attempts to quell the Epstein fervor within his party, the growing concern among Republican members about the potential political implications of the discharge petition is evident, with many fearing being forced into a challenging vote, especially if they are asked to vote against transparency and policy matters concerning the late Jeffrey Epstein.
