A growing number of Republican lawmakers are backing a legislative initiative in the House of Representatives aimed at compelling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release additional files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This support comes despite President Donald Trump urging his followers to abandon the topic, labeling it a “hoax.”
On Wednesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced via social media that five more Republicans have joined the effort to co-sponsor the measure, which is being pursued alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). The newly added co-sponsors include Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Eric Burlison (Mo.), and Tim Burchett (Tenn.).
“The American people deserve full transparency,” Van Drew stated in a post on X. Greene emphasized her commitment to the cause, asserting, “I will never protect pedophiles or the elites and their circles.”
Their backing occurs against the backdrop of Trump’s ongoing criticism of those focused on the Epstein case. He recently expressed his frustration on Truth Social, referring to those still concerned about the issue as “PAST supporters” and declaring, “I don’t want their support anymore!”
The divide within the Republican Party is becoming increasingly evident. Members of Trump’s conservative base have voiced their discontent following a memo from the DOJ and FBI earlier this month, which stated that further information about the Epstein case would not be released. Much of the material is currently sealed by court orders.
Massie and Khanna plan to initiate a discharge petition to bypass the House Republican leadership and force a vote on the legislation. This seldom-used procedure requires 218 signatures, which constitutes a majority of the House, to proceed without leadership approval. Should all Democrats support the petition, only a few Republican votes would be necessary to trigger the vote, making the backing from the six Republicans particularly significant.
In a related development, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stirred controversy on Tuesday when he suggested that the Trump administration should fully disclose relevant information on the Epstein case. His comments appeared to diverge from the White House’s stance. However, Johnson later clarified that his remarks had been “misrepresented.” He emphasized that there is no disagreement between his position and that of Trump, stating, “We’re for transparency. I’m saying the same thing the president is: you need to have all of the credible information released for the American people to make their decision.”
The proposed legislation calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to make publicly available, within 30 days of the measure becoming law, all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein in a searchable and downloadable format. The bill stipulates that these files cannot be “withheld, delayed, or redacted” based on concerns about “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
As the push for transparency continues, the outcome of this legislative effort could have significant implications for public understanding of the Epstein case and its many connections.
