The long fight over the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files is reaching a boiling point in Washington. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is preparing to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote that could finally make the Justice Department’s Epstein files public—a move former President Donald Trump has been trying to stop.
The trigger comes Wednesday night when Johnson swears in Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, ending a 50-day delay since her election. Immediately afterward, Grijalva is expected to add the 218th and final signature needed on a discharge petition led by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna. That single signature will force the House to schedule a vote on whether to release all of the Epstein files.
It’s the culmination of months of quiet rebellion inside Congress. Earlier this year, tensions over Epstein-related documents nearly shut down the House and exposed cracks in Republican leadership. The controversy faded from headlines but never disappeared, and it’s now set to resurface in dramatic fashion.
Once the petition is complete, a countdown begins. After seven legislative days, Speaker Johnson will have two more days to bring the bill to the floor. A vote is expected in early December. The process, rarely used, allows lawmakers to override party leadership and push legislation forward without the Speaker’s consent. If the measure passes, it will still need Senate approval, though few expect the upper chamber to act quickly.
Johnson’s options are limited. He has told allies privately that he won’t interfere, mainly because his majority is too slim to stop it. Members of the Rules Committee have already warned him not to block the measure, and several Republicans have hinted they’ll vote for it even if they didn’t sign the petition.
Trump and his team have reportedly been scrambling behind the scenes to prevent the vote. The former president has called the Epstein controversy a “Democratic hoax,” claiming the Justice Department has already released everything relevant. Despite that, a handful of Trump-aligned Republicans—Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Nancy Mace—remain firm supporters of Massie’s effort, even after heavy pressure from GOP leadership and the White House.
Massie said he’s confident the measure will pass and suggested that some vulnerable Republicans might even get quiet approval from their leaders to support it. Trump aides, meanwhile, are expected to make a “last desperate effort” to derail the petition before it matures.
At the same time, the House Oversight Committee, led by Republican James Comer, continues its own investigation into Epstein’s network. The committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for records and received some material, though progress slowed during the government shutdown. Johnson has defended that investigation as proof that Congress is already handling the matter responsibly, saying that only “credible information” will be released to protect Epstein’s victims.
Still, critics argue that the probe is moving too slowly and too cautiously. Democrats accuse Trump’s administration of stalling to protect political allies, while Republicans insist the inquiry clears the former president of wrongdoing.
Adding to the tension, Ghislaine Maxwell—the convicted associate of Epstein—is reportedly preparing to seek a commutation of her 20-year prison sentence. She recently met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, fueling speculation about a possible appeal for clemency. Trump has not ruled out a reprieve, though Speaker Johnson told Piers Morgan he opposes any pardon.
As December approaches, the fight over the Epstein files has become about far more than one man’s crimes. It’s about transparency, power, and control. Trump wants the issue buried. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding sunlight. And before the year ends, America may finally see what’s been hidden for so long.