House members readied a floor fight over a bill forcing the Justice Department to hand over all files tied to Jeffrey Epstein, using a discharge petition to sidestep leadership and push the Senate to take the measure as-is. Republicans rallied with Democrats and survivors to demand transparency, while some leaders warned the Senate not to alter the bill. The push mixes political theater with a serious promise to survivors and a warning to the DC swamp. Lawmakers on both sides say the real test will be whether the Justice Department actually releases the records.
Lawmakers used a discharge petition to bring the measure to the House floor, a route that lets the chamber vote even when leaders resist. That move earned enough support to advance, with both conservatives and progressives signing on. The governing fight now shifts to the Senate, where supporters are pressing colleagues to avoid changes that could slow or block disclosure.
“This has never been political. This is not about questions of Trump or Biden. This is a question of doing the right thing for survivors. We’re going to get a vote today. I expect an overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives. And I don’t want the DC swamp playing any games,” Khanna said Tuesday as he appeared at a press conference alongside Massie, Greene and some of Epstein’s survivors. “They need to pass this in the Senate, and they should not amend it. President Trump has said he would sign the Epstein Transparency Act. It’s going to get overwhelming support in the House. It should go straight to the Senate, and it should be signed. No amendments, no adding loopholes. Justice is long overdue,” he added.
Rep. Thomas Massie kept the message simple and pointed toward the upper chamber: “As Ro said, don’t muck it up in the Senate. Don’t get too cute,” Massie warned the upper chamber. “We’re all paying attention. If you want to add some additional protections for these survivors, go for it. But if you do anything that prevents any disclosure, you are not for the people, and you are not part of this effort. Do not muck it up in the Senate.” His warning framed the GOP approach — a call for disclosure without delay, and a threat to lawmakers who might obstruct it.
Several House Republicans said they intended to back the bill while flagging drafting concerns, and Speaker Mike Johnson has urged caution about protecting innocent names that might be swept up in the records. That balancing act — between full disclosure and preventing unfair harm to people improperly named — is central to the Senate debate. Conservatives want survivors heard and files released, but there is also pressure to preserve due process for those who could be mistakenly implicated.
“These women have fought the most horrific fight that no woman should have to fight, and they did it by banding together and never giving up,” Greene said Tuesday. “And that’s what we did by fighting so hard against the most powerful people in the world, even the President of the United States, in order to make this vote happen today.” Her remarks emphasized a Republican streak of backing survivors and demanding accountability from powerful actors.
“I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for five, no, actually, six years for. And I gave him my loyalty for free. I won my first election without his endorsement, beating eight men in a primary, and I’ve never owed him anything. But I fought for him for the policies and for America First,” Greene said, days after President Donald Trump pulled his endorsement of the Georgia Republican. “And he called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition.” “Let me tell you what a traitor is,” Greene added. “A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves. A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans, like the women standing behind me.”
“And today, you are going to see probably a unanimous vote in the House to release the Epstein files. But the fight, the real fight will happen after that. While I want to see every single name released so that these women don’t have to live in fear and intimidation, which is something I’ve had a small taste of in just the past few days. Just a small taste,” she added. “They’ve been living it for years, but the real test will be will the Department of Justice release the files, or will it all remain tied up in investigations?” Her point landed on a crucial hinge: a House vote matters, but only if the DOJ follows through.
“We’re here to stand with forgotten and abandoned Americans against an Epstein class that had no regard for the rules or the laws,” Khanna continued. “Because survivors spoke up, because of their courage, the truth is finally going to come out. And when it comes out, this country is really going to have a moral reckoning.” “How did we allow this to happen? There should be no buildings named after people in this Epstein class. There should be no scholarships named after them. They shouldn’t be enjoying the perks of being affiliated with corporations or universities, or writing op-eds or being lionized. And many of the survivors will tell you some of these people still are celebrated in our society. That’s disgusting. There needs to be accountability,” he also said.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.