Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have initiated a renewed bipartisan push to compel the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all remaining records concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Building on an earlier legislative fight that forced the disclosure of millions of pages of documents, Massie filed a new discharge petition on Monday for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II to bring the legislation directly to the House floor in defiance of potential leadership pushback.
Push for Stronger Enforcement and Criminal Penalties:
Lawmakers argue that the DOJ has continued to withhold millions of crucial documents and FBI forms, leaving survivors without full accountability or formal prosecutions. To combat perceived non-compliance, the new legislation introduces rigorous enforcement mechanisms, including:
Mandating the complete release of all remaining files under the explicit threat of criminal penalties against non-compliant entities.
Granting state attorneys general the legal authority to pursue independent prosecutions.
Utilizing a House discharge petition requiring 218 signatures to bypass committee roadblocks and force a floor vote.
Bipartisan Alliance and Legal History:
The latest measure is the continuation of an unconventional cross-party partnership between Massie and Khanna, who previously utilized the same procedural mechanism to shepherd the original Epstein Files Transparency Act through Congress. Their ongoing oversight efforts have included January court interventions to compel compliance and joint inquiries into financial ties. As Massie gathers signatures for the petition, both representatives are urging colleagues across the political aisle to support the initiative, framing complete transparency as a critical milestone for survivors seeking justice.
