Massie says he'll get 218 signatures next week to force a vote on Epstein Files Act II

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday he is confident he can force a House vote on a second Epstein files bill once Congress returns after the election ¹. He wrote on X that he expects to get enough signatures on a discharge petition. A discharge petition is a way for rank-and-file members to bring a bill to the floor without the Speaker's approval ¹.

Massie's petition aims to collect 218 signatures ¹². Massie put it this way on X:

When we return next week, we’ll get 218 signatures for Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which guarantees a vote

Massie wrote that the bill would let survivors "get their own records," let state attorneys general prosecute crimes, and allow the public to take the Department of Justice (DOJ) to court over files it is keeping hidden ¹.

Where the petition started

Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California launched the petition at the end of August, according to a report from the time ². Massie announced it on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, and said members could begin signing that day ². That report did not give a signature count, and the wire copy from Thursday does not either ¹².

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At the time, Massie said there were rumors that Speaker Mike Johnson would recess the House until after the midterms to avoid the vote. That was Massie's claim, not a confirmed plan ². Johnson's response was not included in either report ¹².

What Democrats say

Khanna, who co-sponsored the first law, calls the new bill the "Epstein 2.0 Act." He said it would "allow state attorney generals to prosecute the pedophiles who abused and trafficked young girls" ¹.

The original Epstein Files Transparency Act had broad support in Congress. It forced the Justice Department to release its millions of files on Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender ¹. Survivors and other backers have asked for more, including fewer redactions (blacked-out passages) and more prosecutions of Epstein's allies ¹.

Massie and Khanna have said Epstein had additional co-conspirators who should face criminal charges ¹.

What happens next

Massie says the signatures will come when the House returns next week. Once a petition reaches 218, he says a floor vote is guaranteed ¹. Whether the bill passes the House, and whether it can clear the Senate, is not yet known.

The politics are unusual. Massie lost his Republican primary this year to Ed Gallrein, who was endorsed by Trump. He conceded on May 19, 2026, and he has represented Kentucky's 4th District since 2012 ².

This bill would give survivors and state prosecutors their own legal tools, so access would not depend on one party's oversight.

The Record

1. Aug 31, 2026Massie announced a discharge petition for Epstein Files Transparency Act II, launched with Khanna, and said members could begin signing that day ².
2. Nov 5, 2026Massie says he will have the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote when Congress returns next week ¹.

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<h2>Massie says he&#39;ll get 218 signatures next week to force a vote on Epstein Files Act II</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/massie-says-he-ll-get-218-signatures-next-week-to-force-a-vote-on-epstein-files">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday he is confident he can force a House vote on a second Epstein files bill once Congress returns after the election . He wrote on X that he expects to get enough signatures on a discharge petition. A discharge petition is a way for rank-and-file members to bring a bill to the floor without the Speaker&#39;s approval .</p> <p>Massie&#39;s petition aims to collect 218 signatures . Massie put it this way on X:</p> <blockquote><p>When we return next week, we’ll get 218 signatures for Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which guarantees a vote</p><p>&mdash; Thomas Massie, U.S. Representative, Republican-Kentucky</p></blockquote> <p>Massie wrote that the bill would let survivors &quot;get their own records,&quot; let state attorneys general prosecute crimes, and allow the public to take the Department of Justice (DOJ) to court over files it is keeping hidden .</p> <h2>Where the petition started</h2> <p>Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California launched the petition at the end of August, according to a report from the time . Massie announced it on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, and said members could begin signing that day . That report did not give a signature count, and the wire copy from Thursday does not either .</p> <p>At the time, Massie said there were rumors that Speaker Mike Johnson would recess the House until after the midterms to avoid the vote. That was Massie&#39;s claim, not a confirmed plan . Johnson&#39;s response was not included in either report .</p> <h2>What Democrats say</h2> <p>Khanna, who co-sponsored the first law, calls the new bill the &quot;Epstein 2.0 Act.&quot; He said it would &quot;allow state attorney generals to prosecute the pedophiles who abused and trafficked young girls&quot; .</p> <p>The original Epstein Files Transparency Act had broad support in Congress. It forced the Justice Department to release its millions of files on Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender . Survivors and other backers have asked for more, including fewer redactions (blacked-out passages) and more prosecutions of Epstein&#39;s allies .</p> <p>Massie and Khanna have said Epstein had additional co-conspirators who should face criminal charges .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Massie says the signatures will come when the House returns next week. Once a petition reaches 218, he says a floor vote is guaranteed . Whether the bill passes the House, and whether it can clear the Senate, is not yet known.</p> <p>The politics are unusual. Massie lost his Republican primary this year to Ed Gallrein, who was endorsed by Trump. He conceded on May 19, 2026, and he has represented Kentucky&#39;s 4th District since 2012 .</p> <p>This bill would give survivors and state prosecutors their own legal tools, so access would not depend on one party&#39;s oversight.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/massie-says-he-ll-get-218-signatures-next-week-to-force-a-vote-on-epstein-files">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/massie-says-he-ll-get-218-signatures-next-week-to-force-a-vote-on-epstein-files.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Massie to push a forced vote on second Epstein files bill next week” (2026-11-05). thehill.com/homenews/house/6201121-massie-force-epstein-file
2. WJLA (ABC), “Massie introduces discharge petition to force vote on Epstein Files Transparency Act II” (2026-09-01). wjla.com/news/nation-world/massie-introduces-discharge-petit

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