Overview
- After a bipartisan discharge petition forced floor action, the House is scheduled to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene among four Republicans who signed the petition and Rep. Adelita Grijalva providing the final signature.
- The bill mandates release of unclassified records tied to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including investigations, flight logs, travel records, immunity deals, internal DOJ communications, and documents related to Epstein’s 2019 death, with survivor-identifying details redacted.
- Greene publicly rebuked President Trump for calling her a “traitor” and said her push is to stand with survivors, as several victims joined lawmakers at the Capitol to urge full disclosure and criticize Trump’s handling of the issue.
- Trump initially pressured Greene to withdraw her signature and opposed the effort, then reversed and urged House Republicans to vote yes; he has not released files and, per Rep. Thomas Massie, his directive for DOJ to probe Democrats’ ties could slow disclosures.
- Rep. Massie pressed the Senate to pass the measure without changes, while Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the House vote a political show vote, said he will support it, and signaled he wants the Senate to expand redaction discretion, with backers warning the real test is DOJ compliance.