Congress may yet face increased demand from the public for the release of the Epstein files.
Releasing the files is “a way to bring the country together,” Congressman Ro Khanna said in an interview with Morning Edition.
“A nation that cannot hold accountable rich and powerful men who have abused young girls is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual bearings,” Khanna said. “We have an opportunity to do something in a nonpartisan way to seek justice for these victims.”
Now, Congress has a chance to consider the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act — co-sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. The measure would require the release of unclassified files the government has related to Epstein. The resolution was introduced in July and prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to send members home early for recess.
The Epstein files refer to a vast collection of legal documents, court records, flight logs, FBI reports, and other materials connected to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender accused of running a sex trafficking operation involving underage girls and powerful individuals. These files include names from Epstein’s flight logs, victim testimonies, and unsealed court documents, some of which were released during the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, his close associate.
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The contents reveal disturbing patterns of abuse, alleged complicity by elites, and failures by the justice system, particularly surrounding Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal. While being named in the files doesn’t prove guilt, their release sparked global attention due to the prominence of many individuals involved. As more files continue to surface through lawsuits and FOIA requests, the Epstein case remains a symbol of systemic abuse, power protection, and the fight for justice by survivors.
Khanna and Massie plan to circulate a discharge petition that requires 218 signatures to bypass House leadership and force a vote on their bill, and they also plan to appear with Epstein survivors on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
While speaking to NPR’s Leila Fadel, Khanna had this to say:
Leila Fadel: We heard Speaker Mike Johnson say your discharge petition is reckless and that it would harm victims. What do you say to that?
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Rep. Ro Khanna: The petition is about restoring trust in government. It protects victims’ identity. It’s simply calling for the release of all of the Epstein files to hold rich and powerful men who abused underage girls accountable. I have worked with [House Democratic Leader Hakeem] Jeffries. We are very confident that we will have all 212 Democrats sign the discharge petition. And I’m working closely with Congressman Thomas Massie. We have 12 Republicans who have co-sponsored it, and we’re very confident that we will get over six Republicans to sign it. That will force a full vote in the House.
The push to release the Epstein files through the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act marks a critical moment for government accountability and justice. With growing public demand, lawmakers like Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie argue that transparency is essential to restore trust and confront institutional failures that allowed powerful men to evade justice.
The bill seeks to declassify all government-held Epstein-related documents while protecting victims’ identities, aiming to expose the full scope of Epstein’s crimes and those who may have enabled or participated in them. Despite resistance from House leadership, Khanna and Massie are moving forward with a discharge petition to force a vote. If successful, this could be a rare bipartisan effort to hold elites accountable and demonstrate that no one is above the law. For survivors, the release of these files represents a long-overdue step toward truth, closure, and justice in one of the most disturbing abuse scandals in recent history.