Petition To Release Epstein Files Crosses Key Congressional Threshold

The discharge petition to release the Epstein files has officially surpassed the crucial 218-signature threshold, clearing the way for a potential floor vote.

The final signature was secured just as Democratic Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva — who succeeded her late father, longtime Rep. Raul Grijalva — was sworn in as the newest member of the House, several weeks after winning her special election. (RELATED: Democrat Special Election Winner Could Force House To Take Up Epstein Files Discharge Petition)

Grijalva concluded her floor speech after her swearing in by vowing to sign the petition immediately, saying, “justice cannot wait another day.”

“That is why I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files” — Rep. Grijalva pic.twitter.com/OGtUaYxOj5

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 12, 2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed Grijalva’s swearing-in, tying it to Senate inaction on government funding bills during the shutdown. He has argued the House’s extended recess left him unable to seat her, while multiple Democrats accused him of intentionally postponing her oath to delay a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California filed a resolution July 15 — the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” — cosponsored by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and aimed at referring a bill to force the full public release of all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein to the House Rules Committee. Massie later filed a petition Sept. 2 to move it out of the committee, according to the House of Representatives’ Clerk’s website

As of publication, Massie is one of only four Republicans in the House to sign the petition, compared with 214 House Democrats. Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene joined Massie in signing the petition which has been stalled in recent weeks as nearly all GOP lawmakers have declined to sign it. (RELATED: Republicans Block Epstein File Discharge Petition)

And she has now signed the discharge petition, concluding her floor speech with: “Justice cannot wait another day.” https://t.co/XsOlD1dCdf

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) November 12, 2025

Once a petition reaches the required 218 signatures, it initiates a process that can ultimately bring the measure to the House floor for a vote. However, a brief waiting period must pass before that can occur. After seven legislative days, any lawmaker who signed the petition may formally request that the measure be considered on the floor. At that point, the Speaker is required to schedule the vote within a set timeframe, paving the way for debate and, potentially, final passage.

Johnson stated on Oct. 21 that he would not block a floor vote on a resolution to release records if it received the necessary number of signatures. (RELATED: Johnson Pledges Not To Stall Floor Vote Over Epstein Records)

Under the proposal, 30 days after the law takes effect, the Attorney General would be required to make all unclassified Department of Justice (DOJ) records — those from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices among them — available to the public in a searchable and downloadable manner, with certain exceptions allowed.

We just released ALL the subpoenaed documents from the DOJ related to Jeffrey Epstein.

📁 Access them here: https://t.co/oGY6BYcAcO

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 2, 2025

The resolution permits Bondi to withhold or redact parts of records containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), instances of rape, physical abuse, or death, as well as any personally identifying information of alleged victims. It also allows redactions for information that could compromise ongoing federal investigations or prosecutions, or that pertains to national defense or foreign policy matters.

On Sept. 2, the House Oversight Committee made public thousands of subpoenaed records related to Jeffrey Epstein that were obtained via the Department of Justice. The committee had confirmed on Aug. 22 that it received the documents, totaling more than 33,000 pages.

Editor’s Note: Article updated to clarify the legislative processes.