WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (C) speaks alongside U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) (L) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act o...WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (C) speaks alongside U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) (L) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. The House is expected to vote today on the legislation, which instructs the U.S. Department of Justice to release all files related to the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)MORE LESS
The House on Tuesday comfortably passed the resolution to release the Justice Department’s files on the Jeffrey Epstein case. All present House Democrats and Republicans — except Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) — supported the measure in a 427-1 vote, sending the measure to the Senate for a potential vote.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
Trump also publicly broke with MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, unhappy with her decision to sign the petition. The president withdrew his endorsement of Greene’s reelection and called her a “traitor.”
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was called to the White House and pulled into the Situation Room in an effort to make her remove her signature from the petition last week.
Trump also publicly broke with MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, unhappy with her decision to sign the petition. The president withdrew his endorsement of Greene’s reelection and called her a “traitor.”
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
The president and the White House spent last week increasing the pressure on House Republicans who had signed onto the discharge petition, despite months of House GOP leadership dismissing the effort, framing it as a disgruntled Massie trying to get attention.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was called to the White House and pulled into the Situation Room in an effort to make her remove her signature from the petition last week.
Trump also publicly broke with MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, unhappy with her decision to sign the petition. The president withdrew his endorsement of Greene’s reelection and called her a “traitor.”
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
The House vote came after months of limbo surrounding the discharge petition that Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) created to force floor action on the Justice Department’s refusal to release its tranche of documents on investigations into Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was arrested on child sex trafficking charges in 2019. The discharge petition needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on the matter. Last week, after being sworn in following weeks of delays, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) became the last signature needed to bring the measure to the House floor.
The president and the White House spent last week increasing the pressure on House Republicans who had signed onto the discharge petition, despite months of House GOP leadership dismissing the effort, framing it as a disgruntled Massie trying to get attention.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was called to the White House and pulled into the Situation Room in an effort to make her remove her signature from the petition last week.
Trump also publicly broke with MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, unhappy with her decision to sign the petition. The president withdrew his endorsement of Greene’s reelection and called her a “traitor.”
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
The House vote came after months of limbo surrounding the discharge petition that Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) created to force floor action on the Justice Department’s refusal to release its tranche of documents on investigations into Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was arrested on child sex trafficking charges in 2019. The discharge petition needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on the matter. Last week, after being sworn in following weeks of delays, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) became the last signature needed to bring the measure to the House floor.
The president and the White House spent last week increasing the pressure on House Republicans who had signed onto the discharge petition, despite months of House GOP leadership dismissing the effort, framing it as a disgruntled Massie trying to get attention.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was called to the White House and pulled into the Situation Room in an effort to make her remove her signature from the petition last week.
Trump also publicly broke with MAGA loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last week, unhappy with her decision to sign the petition. The president withdrew his endorsement of Greene’s reelection and called her a “traitor.”
The Trump White House’s efforts to block an Epstein vote were unsuccessful.
That led Trump to buy himself some time by claiming that he was supportive of the effort to compel the DOJ to release the documents. Over the weekend he encouraged House Republicans to support the measure to compel the DOJ to release the files — something he could do himself, without a House vote on the matter.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax,” Trump said in a late Sunday night Truth Social post.
And on Monday when asked if he would sign the petition if it reached his desk, Trump said: “Sure I would.”
Following Trump’s bumbling change in rhetoric, the Senate is now expected to take up the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has not yet said when the upper chamber may take up the resolution. And so far it is unclear if the senators will be forced to take a roll-call vote on the resolution. Senate Democrats could demand a roll-call vote in order put individual Senate Republicans on the record on their stance.
