Rep. Thomas Massie’s discharge petition to force a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II has gathered 49 signatures as of September 2, 2026, according to the House Clerk’s office, marking an early push for legislation that would expand legal remedies against the Department of Justice over withheld files.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced the discharge petition on August 31 alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and other bipartisan co-sponsors. The petition requires 218 signatures—a majority of the House’s 435 members—to force a floor vote, a threshold that proved achievable for the first Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025.
The new bill addresses continued withholding of Epstein-related documents. According to Rep. Lou Correa of California, who signed the discharge petition, the Trump administration is “still hiding 3 million” Epstein files despite the first transparency act, which President Trump signed into law on November 19, 2025. The Department of Justice released 3.5 million responsive pages in January 2026, but a federal judge in August 2026 pressed the DOJ to explain redactions in the remaining files, finding that Attorney General Todd Blanche’s claims about the withholding “do not comply” with the court’s order.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act II differs from its predecessor by granting state attorneys general and survivors of Epstein’s abuse the power to sue the Justice Department to compel release of unredacted files. Massie told reporters the bill aims to “bring the fight to the state courts” and hold the federal government accountable for what he characterized as stonewalling.
A discharge petition is a legislative maneuver that bypasses committee and party leadership. Once filed, members can add or remove their names for seven legislative days after the bill’s referral to committee. If 218 members sign, the petition is placed on the discharge calendar and must wait an additional seven legislative days before a member can call for a vote. The Speaker then has two legislative days to schedule the floor consideration. The procedure proved successful in November 2025, when Massie’s first Epstein discharge petition reached 218 signatures and the House voted 427-1 to pass the original Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The discharge process has become more common in recent Congresses. According to a February 2026 report from the Congressional Research Service, four discharge petitions reached the 218-signature threshold in the first session of the 119th Congress alone, compared to two in the entire 118th Congress.
Sources
- House Clerk’s Office — discharge petition tracking showing 49 signatures as of September 2, 2026
- Spectrum News 1 (Louisville) — Massie introducing Epstein Files Transparency Act II and discharge petition strategy
- Rep. Lou Correa press release — Trump administration withholding 3 million Epstein files
- Department of Justice — publication of 3.5 million responsive pages in January 2026
- Forbes — federal judge pressing DOJ on Epstein file redactions in August 2026
- NBC News — House passing original Epstein Files Transparency Act 427-1 in November 2025
- Congressional Research Service — discharge petition procedures and recent usage trends
