# House Forces Vote on New Legislation to Release Withheld Epstein Files Lawmakers bypass leadership to demand full disclosure of remaining Jeffrey Epstein case documents. - **Source:** [Roll Call](https://rollcall.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/14bf038c-d76c-4ca3-913c-074c9e417260 ## Legislative Bypass Strategy Representative Thomas Massie successfully led a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. By securing 218 signatures, including the decisive vote from Representative John Garamendi, supporters bypassed Republican leadership. This procedural tool mandates a vote regardless of opposition from the House floor leadership. ## Scope of New Bill The proposed legislation empowers state attorneys general, local prosecutors, and abuse survivors to file federal lawsuits against the Justice Department. These legal actions aim to compel the release of withheld materials. Additionally, the bill grants members of Congress the authority to demand and review unredacted versions of sensitive case records. ## Previous Disclosure Issues Congress previously passed the original Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, which President Trump signed into law. Despite this, Representative Massie claims the Justice Department continues to withhold over 3 million files. Lawmakers and victims argue that the initial document disclosure was both significantly delayed and functionally incomplete. ## Bipartisan Petition Support The petition gained momentum through a coalition of members, including Representatives Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, and Brian Fitzpatrick. While Representative Lauren Boebert supported the initial 2025 effort, she did not sign the current petition. The process now requires a seven-day waiting period before the legislation can be officially called for a vote. ## Presidential Stance Shifts President Trump’s position on the document release has fluctuated throughout his political cycle. During his 2024 reelection campaign, he expressed openness toward declassifying certain Epstein-related documents. However, he later characterized the files as a hoax. This political friction highlights the complex environment surrounding the ongoing push for federal government transparency. ## Massie’s Final Push Representative Thomas Massie is currently serving his final weeks in Congress after losing his primary election earlier this year. He has framed the bill as a critical bid for transparency, urging colleagues to sign the petition to become heroes. His efforts represent a persistent, multi-year campaign to extract records from the department. ## Procedural Waiting Period With the 218-signature threshold met, the petition must sit for seven legislative days before floor action. Historically, Speaker Mike Johnson has opted to schedule votes before this period concludes to avoid procedural delays. The outcome remains uncertain, but the petition mechanism ensures the legislation will reach the floor for a vote. ## Accountability and Transparency The drive for these files underscores a broader legislative effort to hold the Justice Department accountable for redaction practices. By enabling private lawsuits and congressional oversight, the bill seeks to bypass bureaucratic barriers. The final vote will determine whether the government must surrender the remaining millions of documents currently under seal. ## Sources covering this story - [Politico – Congress — House Members Force Vote on Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/11/congress/epstein-files-transparency-act-discharge-01161062) - [Roll Call — New House Bill Targets Release of Withheld Jeffrey Epstein Files](https://rollcall.com/2026/11/11/another-bill-to-release-epstein-files-headed-to-house-floor/) - [Axios — Rep. Massie Forces House Showdown Over Withheld Epstein Files](https://www.axios.com/2026/11/11/massie-epstein-files-second-vote) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._