Massie's Second Epstein Files Petition Sits Two Signatures Short as House Stays in Recess

A discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to force a House vote on a second Epstein files bill is two signatures short of the 218 it needs. The House is not scheduled to return until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Massie said on Oct. 8 that the petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II had 216 signatures, according to Spectrum News 1 Kentucky. Republicans who have signed include Massie and Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Spectrum reported.

What the bill would do

Congress passed the original Epstein Files Transparency Act last year. It took effect Nov. 19, 2025, and required the Justice Department to make its Epstein investigative files public by Dec. 19, 2025.

The follow-up bill, H.R. 9694, with a Senate companion, S. 5005, would give state attorneys general, authorized state officials, victims and members of Congress explicit standing to sue the U.S. attorney general in federal court over records that are withheld, delayed or heavily redacted. That is according to a summary released by the New Mexico Department of Justice.

On Oct. 16, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford led a coalition of state attorneys general in a letter urging congressional leaders to pass the bill. The letter was addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

How the House calendar shaped the fight

A discharge petition lets a majority of House members force a floor vote on a bill without the support of leadership. Members can sign a petition only while the House is in session.

In early September, Johnson canceled two of the House’s three remaining September workweeks, Roll Call reported. Massie called the move an “attempt to stymie our latest Epstein bill.” At the time, the petition had more than 100 signatures, according to Roll Call.

On Sept. 16, Johnson sent lawmakers home a day early to campaign, the AP reported. That left Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, as well as the Epstein petition, without floor votes.

Massie used a question of personal privilege to deliver an hourlong speech on the House floor criticizing the decision, Roll Call reported. “We’re calling off Congress? And we’re in the majority?” he said, according to the AP. “I’m trying to get justice for the Epstein survivors,” he said. “I’m trying to stop a war.”

Johnson said “the House has done its job,” pointing to the hundreds of bills it passed this session, the AP reported. He dismissed Massie’s Hegseth impeachment effort as “a stunt” and told reporters lawmakers were on 48-hour notice to return to Washington if needed.

What happens next

The petition cannot move forward on the House floor while the chamber is in recess. WUKY reported on Oct. 13 that Massie was continuing to press for the remaining signatures.

Massie lost his Republican primary in May to former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Massie remains in office through the end of his current term in January.