Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) discharge petition to release the Epstein files is on track to force a House vote by the end of the month even if no additional Republicans sign on. That has created deep unease within the GOP conference, where lawmakers are caught between their base’s demand for transparency on the Epstein case and President Trump’s desire to bury the matter.
According to both Massie and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the White House has been privately urging Republicans not to add their names to the petition. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has also made clear he opposes the move, since a discharge petition undermines his control of the floor.
The petition currently has 216 signatures 211 from Democrats and four from Republicans: Massie, Greene, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). Only 218 signatures are required to force a floor vote. The final two signatures could come from special elections in heavily Democratic districts: Virginia’s 11th, where James Walkinshaw is favored, and Arizona’s 7th, where Adelita Grijalva is expected to win. Both campaigns have said they would sign on if elected.
Even if the petition reaches 218, Trump and Johnson still have options. The White House could pressure one of the four Republicans to withdraw their support, or Johnson could use procedural maneuvers to kill the effort tactics he has deployed before. Massie argues that the Epstein files are a far more potent issue with the public than past procedural fights, making it harder for leadership to simply sideline it.
If a vote does happen, it will put Republicans in a politically dangerous spot. Many have spent years insisting there is a cover-up protecting Epstein’s associates, but openly defying Trump carries its own risks. The tension mirrors the fallout faced by GOP lawmakers who crossed Trump during his impeachment fight.
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