Washington — Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed a discharge petition on Tuesday to attempt to force a House vote on compelling the release of files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, resurfacing the saga upon Congress' return.
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced legislation in July that would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days.
Although leadership controls the House's agenda and what legislation receives a vote, individual lawmakers can "discharge" legislation that has been sitting in committee.
A discharge petition enables 218 members, a majority of the lower chamber, to provide their signatures and effectively bypass leadership to bring a bill before the full House for a vote.
Khanna told NPR News on Tuesday that he's "very confident" all 212 Democrats will support the petition, along with more than the six Republicans needed to force a vote in the House.
Before lawmakers left Washington, House Democrats and some Republicans had pushed for a floor vote to force the release of the files, but House Speaker Mike Johnson opted to send the House home early amid the pressure.
Massie criticized the move, calling it a "meaningless vote to provide political cover for those members who don't support our bipartisan legislation to force the release of the Epstein files.". »