Several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse voiced support on Wednesday for bipartisan legislation demanding release of all government files related to the convicted sex offender, as lawmakers push to bypass House leadership through a discharge petition.
Speaking outside the US Capitol, abuse survivor Anouska De Georgiou said she supported the legislation despite personal costs, stating the only motive to oppose the bill would be to “conceal wrongdoing”. The event drew dozens of reporters and demonstrators holding signs demanding file release and supporting survivors.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, the bill’s co-author, said he is approaching the 218 signatures needed to force a House floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would compel release of unclassified Justice Department records while maintaining redacted personal information.
Republican lawmaker nears signature threshold for discharge petition
Massie requires six Republican signatures to reach the majority threshold, with four already committed including Representatives Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene. All 212 House Democrats are expected to support the bipartisan effort.
“This is an issue that doesn’t have political boundaries,” Greene told reporters. “The truth needs to come out, and the government holds the truth.”
The proposed resolution demands release of all unclassified Epstein records held by federal agencies including the FBI and US attorneys’ offices. Massie filed the discharge petition after Congress returned from recess, triggering a mechanism allowing legislation stalled in committee for over 30 days to bypass leadership.
Survivor Annie Farmer, now 46, described being flown to New Mexico at age 16 to spend a weekend with Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. “For so many years, it felt like Epstein’s criminal behavior was an open secret,” Farmer said.
White House labels petition “hostile act” amid investigation
The White House condemned the discharge petition as “a very hostile act” that would undermine House oversight committee investigations and Justice Department compliance. President Donald Trump dismissed calls for additional information as a “Democrat hoax that never ends”.
House Speaker Mike Johnson branded the bipartisan petition a “moot point” following Tuesday’s release of over 33,000 pages of Epstein-related records by the oversight committee. Massie called the document release “woefully incomplete” and said it would not deter his efforts.
Democratic co-sponsor Representative Ro Khanna noted the legislation targets government transparency rather than Trump personally, expressing hope for presidential support. “I would like nothing more than a Truth Social post for him after this press conference saying ‘just release the files’,” Khanna said.
Even if successful in the House, the legislation faces Senate approval under Republican majority leader John Thune, who has not indicated support. Trump’s opposition could result in a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds congressional majority to override.
Epstein died in a Manhattan federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
His death was ruled a suicide.
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