Discharge Petition for Jeffrey Epstein Files Clears Hurdle — What Happens Next?

WASHINGTON — A rare procedural maneuver has propelled a controversial transparency battle into the heart of the U.S. House of Representatives. On November 12, 2025, a bipartisan group of lawmakers secured the critical 218th signature on a discharge petition aimed at forcing a floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The petition, a seldom-used tool to bypass House leadership, now triggers a sequence of steps designed to bring long-sought documents related to Epstein’s investigation to public light.