Dozens of House Republicans may vote in support of releasing files related to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a GOP sponsor of the legislation.
“I think we could have a deluge of Republicans. There could be 100 or more. I’m hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation when it comes up for a vote,” Massie said Sunday in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”
The House is set to consider a bill related to releasing the Epstein files as soon as Tuesday. The legislation would compel the Justice Department to disclose files tied to its investigation of Epstein and his death in federal prison.
Four House Republicans ― Massie, Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) ― had previously signed a petition pushing for the vote. Reports from CNN and Politico also suggested that far more Republicans could support the bill itself, as lawmakers in both parties have called for transparency on the issue.
“Everything should be out — except for the victims’ names,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told KNLV radio station last week.
In addition to passing in the Senate, the legislation would likely need to overcome a presidential veto to take effect. Massie said he was hopeful a decisive House vote would send a message to Senate Republicans who’ve signaled little appetite for the measure thus far.
“I just hope [Senate Majority Leader] John Thune (R-S.D.) will do the right thing,” Massie said. “The pressure is going to be there if we get a big vote in the House.”
Spokespeople for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Thune did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday evening, Trump said Republicans should vote for the bill after previously trying to block it. His reversal occurred after it was clear many House Republicans planned to vote for the release of the Epstein files. Such a vote would have highlighted a rare divide between Trump and GOP lawmakers.
Prior to Trump’s shift, Massie suggested that the White House seemed eager to shield the president’s allies, who are allegedly referenced in the documents.
“I think he’s trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends,” Massie said. “There are at least 20 people in those files, there are politicians, billionaires, movie producers who are implicated criminally who haven’t been investigated.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Trump had taken actions to support Epstein’s victims, and accused Democrats of focusing on the subject to score political points.
“By releasing tens of thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have,” Jackson said in a statement.
Last week, Congressional Democrats and Republicans released a trove of Epstein’s emails, including multiple messages that referenced the president. Trump dismissed those disclosures as a “hoax” and the White House denied any wrongdoing.