Vote on Epstein Files Set to Cause GOP Infighting

Information related to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is one step closer to being released to the public after a discharge petition in the House of Representatives received the necessary support to bring a bill to the House floor for a vote, setting up what could be more Republican infighting over the Epstein files.

The House bill, which is known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, was an effort headed up by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who is facing primary pressure for his votes against the Republican conference, and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. The legislation is cosponsored by a large number of Democrats and Republicans, ranging from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

With the newly-sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva’s, D-Ariz., signature, the discharge petition met the 218 signature threshold needed to force a vote on the House floor. While the Trump administration and Republican leadership have resisted Congressional efforts to release the Epstein files, Republican leaders in Congress are expecting a large portion of the GOP conference to vote in favor.

What Would the Bill Do?

If the bill succeeds, it will require the attorney general to “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices” related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. That includes Epstein’s flight logs and internal DOJ communications.

The bill also covers the release of information related to, “individuals, including government officials, named or referenced in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory proceedings.”

The legislation does permit the withholding of information under a few circumstances including depictions of the abuse of victims and “information specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.” The bill requires that redacted information have a written justification given to Congress.

Massie and Khanna appeared on CNN this week to discuss why they were pushing for the release of the files. Khanna said he thought dozens of Republicans could end up voting for the legislation. “This is more than about political wins,” Massie said, “it’s about getting transparency and justice.”

Growing Number of Republicans Support Releasing the Epstein Files

A growing number of Republicans are coming out in support of the bill.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who is running to be the next governor of Arizona, announced on Thursday that he would vote for the bill. “I’m going to vote yes to … release the records. I’m going to vote yes on that legislation,” Biggs said.

Massie for his part urged the president to preemptively release the files before Congress has a chance to force the Justice Department’s hand. Trump “could also bring over some Democrats and independents” by releasing the files, the Kentucky lawmaker said on CNN. “It would behoove the Republican Party, frankly, if he would show leadership on this.”

White House Calls New Epstein Emails a ‘Hoax’

The discharge petition was not the only move this week that escalated the war over the Epstein files. On Wednesday, House Oversight Democrats released emails from Epstein’s estate. Some of the emails included comments about Trump, even though in most cases the context was unclear.

While the documents have received extensive press coverage, some have criticized them as recycled information that was already known by the public. In particular, Democrats appear to have redacted the name of an Epstein victim who the sex offender had claimed in a 2011 email “spent hours at my house with Trump” only for the White House to point out that the victim was Virginia Giuffre, who had previously testified that she believed Trump was not involved in Epstein’s crimes.

“These emails prove literally nothing. Democrats and the mainstream media are desperately trying to use this hoax as a distraction to talk about anything other than Democrats getting utterly defeated by President Trump in the shutdown fight,” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, told The Daily Signal.

“We won’t be distracted, and the entire Administration will continue fulfilling the promises the President was elected on, including cutting the Biden-era price hikes,” Jackson added.

Meanwhile other Republicans have contended that the Epstein files are a distraction constructed by Democrats designed to take focus away from fulfilling the MAGA agenda and promoting the administration’s many accomplishments.

The president’s son Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X “Yea. You pretty much nailed it,” in response to a social media post that stated Epstein hated Trump among other claims.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt lambasted CNN on social media charging that, “If not for the Jeffrey Epstein story, CNN would be forced to talk about how Chuck Schumer and the Democrats got shellacked by President Trump and Republicans in the government shutdown fight.”

“Republicans, don’t be fooled. President Trump will remain focused on Making America Affordable Again,” Leavitt added.

The president said on Friday that he would directing the Department of Justice to investigate Epstein’s connections to prominent Democrats.

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