Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday said he does not believe a bipartisan effort to push for a House vote on the release of all Jeffrey Epstein-related documents will succeed. The discharge petition, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), aims to compel the Justice Department to disclose its entire file on Epstein, including redacted materials. Johnson, who holds a decisive role in controlling the House agenda, expressed doubts about the petition’s ability to gather sufficient Republican backing to override House leadership and force a vote.
Massie has so far secured the support of three GOP members, but at least two more are needed to bypass Johnson and push for a vote. Johnson stated, “I don’t expect he will,” when asked about Massie’s prospects for success. This comment highlights the significant resistance from top GOP leaders, who have remained silent on the issue, possibly due to the administration’s pressure. White House officials are reportedly involved in an intense lobbying campaign to prevent Republicans from signing the petition, with Trump aides directly contacting GOP members. The White House is urging legislators who have not yet joined the effort to keep their names off the discharge petition and those who have to remove their names, according to three Republicans who spoke to the press under anonymity.
Massie acknowledged the intense pressure, stating, “They’re using everything they got. Jim Braid is calling …. Jeff Freeland is calling, James Blair is calling. In some cases, the president is talking to people,” indicating that key administration figures, including White House director of legislative affairs Jim Braid, House liaison Jeff Freeland, and deputy chief of staff James Blair, are actively working to deter GOP support for the petition. The administration’s efforts appear to be aimed at minimizing the petition’s impact by preventing further GOP backing, thus avoiding any potential mandate requiring the Department of Justice to release the full file on Epstein. Despite the White House’s lobbying, Massie remains optimistic, believing that he is close to securing the required 218 signatures.
Johnson further dismissed the petition as “superfluous” after Republicans approved a leadership-blessed resolution to continue the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s probe into Epstein. This symbolic resolution, approved by GOP leaders, is designed to preempt the discharge petition by giving the Oversight Committee continued authority to investigate Epstein. Johnson said that the resolution effectively negates the need for the petition, as it allows the committee to continue its work without the need for a binding vote or the release of the entire file.
Massie, however, believes that the petition could still serve as an important political tool if the Justice Department delays in releasing new information. He suggested that the Oversight Committee may not be able to fully examine the materials in a timely manner, especially as members sift through the first batch of nearly 33,000 files provided by the Department of Justice. Massie hinted that, while most of the materials contain minimal new information, there is significant redaction, making it difficult to assess the full scope of the case. This, he argued, justifies the need for the petition to push the DOJ to release the complete file.
Other Republicans have expressed concerns about the petition, with Rep. Tim Burchett, a GOP member who met with Epstein’s accusers earlier this week, warning that the rush to release the files could potentially harm the victims. Burchett stated, “I’m afraid in our rush to release the files, we might damage some of those ladies.” Similarly, Rep. Eric Burlison, a member of the House Oversight panel, acknowledged that while the petition might become a political tool if the Justice Department delays, the Oversight Committee is already making significant progress on the investigation. These concerns highlight the internal debate within the GOP over the merits of the petition and the potential consequences of its passage.
Meanwhile, Johnson suggested that President Donald Trump is likely to meet with Epstein’s victims, some of whom came to Capitol Hill earlier this week to appear with Massie and Khanna. Johnson’s remark underscores the administration’s interest in maintaining a narrative of engagement with the victims, even as it seeks to block the petition’s progress. Massie, in a separate statement, noted that he had made a “tactical error” earlier in the process by revealing his goal of securing 12 co-sponsors, which provided the White House with a roadmap to counteract his efforts. He now admits that the White House is exploiting this information to target specific legislators, making the petition more difficult to pass.