White House Warns GOP Against Epstein File Release Petition

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna are leading a bipartisan effort to force a House vote on the full release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, aiming to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose previously unreleased materials. Massie filed a discharge petition, which requires at least 218 signatures to bring the vote directly to the House floor, bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership who oppose the move, arguing the House Oversight Committee is already handling the matter. Several Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace, have joined the petition, with Democrats largely supportive, leaving the petition just a few signatures short of the threshold. The White House and President Donald Trump have warned that Republicans backing the petition would be committing a "hostile act" against the administration, seeking to dissuade GOP support for the measure. Massie and Khanna plan a press conference featuring Epstein victims sharing their stories, and some victims have indicated potential plans to name additional accomplices if the files remain withheld. Critics of the House Oversight Committee's recent release of 33,000 Epstein files argue that many documents remain heavily redacted or previously public, underscoring calls for full transparency and justice for survivors.