Politics

House Votes to Force Trump’s DOJ to Release Epstein Files: What’s Next?

House votes to release Epstein files; Trump may sign. Senate will now consider the measure.

November 18, 2025, 3:58 PM

Close-up, detailed view of the US Capitol Building dome and its intricate white marble facade against a blue sky.

A close-up detail view of the intricate dome and classical architecture of the US Capitol Building. By lazyllama / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan measure compelling President Trump’s Justice Department to publicly release all investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

President Trump has reversed his previous stance and now indicates he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk, following months of internal GOP conflict over the issue.

The legislative push, spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie, overcame initial resistance from high-level officials including President Trump and House leadership, and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The Story So Far

The bipartisan push to release Jeffrey Epstein’s investigative files was initially spurred by President Trump, who had publicly speculated about the case and promised declassification during his campaign but later failed to act, creating a rift within his base. This lack of action, combined with initial resistance from House GOP leadership, led a bipartisan group of representatives to employ a procedural gambit to bypass leadership and force a vote. President Trump’s eventual reversal from characterizing the issue as a “Democratic hoax” to supporting the measure was influenced by the looming House vote and concerns about a potential embarrassing defeat.

Why This Matters

The House’s bipartisan vote, which compelled President Trump to reverse his stance and indicate he will sign the bill, marks a significant legislative victory for transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, potentially leading to the public release of sensitive files and shedding new light on the case. This outcome also underscores the potent political pressure that can override initial resistance from high-level officials and highlights internal divisions within the Republican party.

Who Thinks What?

The U.S. House of Representatives, with overwhelming bipartisan support, demands the public release of all investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, leveraging a discharge petition to bypass initial leadership resistance.

President Donald Trump, after initially calling the issue a “Democratic hoax” and facing internal GOP conflict, has now indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk, a shift from his previous stance.

Speaker Mike Johnson and the House GOP leadership initially resisted the effort to release the files but ultimately backed the measure, with Speaker Johnson now advocating for key protections for victims’ privacy in the Senate’s consideration of the bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward compelling President Donald Trump’s Justice Department to publicly release all investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The measure, which garnered remarkable bipartisan support including from nearly every Republican, now moves to the Senate for consideration, following months of internal GOP conflict over the issue.

President Trump has indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk, a notable shift from his previous characterization of the issue as a “Democratic hoax.” This turnaround by the President and Republican leadership came as a House vote loomed, with concerns about a potential embarrassing defeat.

Speaker Mike Johnson, who along with his leadership team initially sought to quash the effort over the summer and fall, ultimately backed the measure. Johnson stated he is now urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to incorporate key protections for victims’ privacy should the Senate take up the bill.

Legislative Path and Political Dynamics

The legislative push was spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, with strong backing from Democrats. Massie noted the extensive resistance faced from various high-level officials, including President Trump, the Attorney General, the FBI Director, the Speaker of the House, and the Vice President, before their eventual change of stance.

Massie welcomed President Trump’s reversal, stating that the President’s decision to come on board strengthens his position. The House vote represents a significant moment for the Kentucky Republican, who had faced personal attacks and a primary campaign threat from Trump and his advisors in recent weeks.

The months-long saga has also exposed bitter feuds within the Republican conference. This includes a public disagreement between President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom Trump reportedly called a “traitor” for joining Massie’s push for the files’ release.

Background to the Transparency Push

Ironically, President Trump himself initially fueled GOP interest in the government’s Epstein investigation. During his campaign, he repeatedly speculated publicly about Epstein’s death in prison and promised to declassify related files.

Officials appointed by President Trump, such as Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, also contributed to public speculation regarding an “Epstein list.” However, months into President Trump’s second term, no new information had been released by the White House, creating a significant rift with his base.

This lack of action prompted Massie, in partnership with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, to launch a procedural gambit. They utilized a discharge petition, securing the necessary 218th signature from Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, to bypass GOP leadership and force a vote on the House floor.

Looking Ahead

The House’s decisive vote signals a powerful demand for transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. With the measure now in the Senate, the focus shifts to whether the upper chamber will advance the bill and send it to President Trump’s desk, fulfilling what Rep. Grijalva described as “a demand from the nation.”