Bipartisan Congress Pushes House Vote to Release Epstein Files

There is growing bipartisan pressure in Congress to force the Justice Department to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, with lawmakers like Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Mikie Sherrill backing a discharge petition to compel a House vote on the matter. Despite needing 218 signatures to advance the petition, chamber leaders may attempt procedural changes to block the effort, though such maneuvers would require the same number of votes, making them a public record of opposition. Rep. Zach Nunn also supports full transparency, emphasizing the need to protect victim privacy while ensuring the public has access to the files. The House Oversight Committee recently published some documents, including a disputed birthday card allegedly sent by President Donald Trump to Epstein, which the White House denies. Critics argue that the delay and partial release of documents point to an effort to protect powerful individuals connected to Epstein, while advocates say full disclosure is essential for justice and accountability for survivors. The issue remains a significant point of contention amidst public demand for transparency about Epstein's network and institutional failures that enabled his crimes.