Massie and Khanna Secure 218 Signatures to Force a Second Epstein Files Vote

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) announced September 18, 2026 that they had secured the 218 signatures needed on a discharge petition to force a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which would let victims, lawmakers and states sue the Justice Department over withheld Epstein-related records. Four Republicans — Massie, Ralph Norman, Nancy Mace and Brian Fitzpatrick — joined every House Democrat to reach the threshold, bypassing committee review.

The push follows the original Epstein Files Transparency Act, which reached 218 signatures via the same discharge-petition mechanism in November 2025 and passed the House 427-1 before being signed into law, though lawmakers say significant records remain withheld. The new petition signals continued bipartisan pressure on the administration over Epstein-related transparency, an issue that has repeatedly split the president's own party.

The petition clears the procedural threshold for a floor vote, expected after the November midterm elections rather than immediately; the bill's ultimate passage and any administration response remain undetermined.