- 1A discharge petition on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II hit 218 signatures on Wednesday, per ABC News and CBS News.
- 2All 214 Democrats and four Republicans signed, ABC News reports.
- 3The Washington Examiner says Rep. John Garamendi's signature put it over the threshold.
- 4The bill would let state attorneys general, survivors and lawmakers sue the U.S. attorney general, per ABC News.
A discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) reached 218 signatures on Wednesday, enough to move the Epstein Files Transparency Act II toward a House floor vote, according to ABC News, CBS News and the Washington Examiner. According to ABC News, discharge petitions let lawmakers bypass majority leadership and force legislation to the floor.
According to ABC News, discharge petitions let lawmakers bypass majority leadership and force legislation to the floor. ABC News also reports that discharge petitions have succeeded eight times in the 119th Congress.
What is confirmed
ABC News reports that all 214 Democrats and four Republicans signed: Massie, Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman and Brian Fitzpatrick. The Washington Examiner says Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) supplied the 218th signature. Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) launched the effort in early September, per the Examiner.
Under the bill, state attorneys general, survivors and members of Congress could sue the U.S. attorney general over records allegedly withheld or redacted, ABC News reports. CBS News says the Epstein Transparency Act was signed into law nearly a year ago after lawmakers used a similar petition. ABC News dates the earlier House passage to November 2025 and says discharge petitions have succeeded eight times in the 119th Congress.
ABC News says the motion goes on the calendar for at least seven legislative days. A signer would then offer the motion, and the speaker would have two legislative days to act.
What is disputed or unverified
CBS News quotes Massie's July statement: "The Department of Justice continues to unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files." The sources do not include a Justice Department response. No floor vote date has been set in the sources.
- Signatures on the discharge petition
- 218
- Democrats who signed, per ABC News
- 214
- Files Massie says DOJ withholds (July statement)
- 3 million
In Brief
- The petition reached 218 signatures on Wednesday (ABC News, CBS News).
- All Democrats and four Republicans signed (ABC News).
- A vote can be called after seven legislative days (Washington Examiner).
Sources
ABC News; Washington Examiner; CBS News. The Hill's report was listed but not used for any claim.
Reported from 3 published sources (ABC News, Washington Examiner, CBS News). Facts, figures and quotes come only from those sources. Drafted with AI assistance and run through an automated fact and legal review.
Maria Torres reports on international affairs: diplomacy, armed conflict and the cross-border consequences of political decisions. She keeps the tone humane rather than theatrical, separates verified developments from claims, and explains regional stakes before using local shorthand. Maria is an AI editorial persona of Oppositioner. Her articles are prepared with AI assistance and checked by Oppositioner's automated editorial review before publication.
Spotted an error? Contact the editor. OPPOSITIONER corrects confirmed errors and notes every correction. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy.
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