WASHINGTON − TheHouse is fighting overa bill to forcethe Justice Department to releaserecords from its criminal investigationinto sex trafficking by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. But an effort to force a vote on the measure is two votes short of a majority, andPresident Donald Trumpand leading Republicans are trying to make sure it doesn't get there. The legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, D-California, calls for the release of "all investigations, prosecutions or custodial matters" about Epstein andhis aide, Ghislaine Maxwell, who isserving a 20-year prison term. The information could include flight logs, names associated with criminal activities, civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements. The targets could be companies or governmental agencies with alleged ties to Epstein's trafficking or financial networks. Bradley Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein survivors, told reporters Sept. 2 that he has seen records through civil lawsuits that documented the financial support Epstein received to support his sex trafficking conspiracy. Edwards said a release of documents could also include CIA and FBI records. "When you see the documents, you will be appalled," Edwards said. "Everybody knows that evil flourishes in the darkness." Leading Republicans oppose the release of more records.President Donald Trumpvoiced concern aboutuninvolved people being namedunfairly in the files.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said the bill isn't necessary after acommittee released 33,295 pagesof records Sept. 2. Yet the documents are unlikely to satisfy Trump critics who have demanded the Department of Justice disclose all documents in its possession from the government's Epstein investigation. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, said 97% of the records released in the first tranche had already been made public previously. He said most are the same records Attorney GeneralPam Bondiprovided to right-wing influencersin February. Trump told reporters Sept. 3 in the Oval Office that − despite support among some of Trump's allies in Congress and the media − calls for transparency are really "a Democrat hoax." "Because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president," Trump said. To force a House vote, Massie and Khanna circulated a petition among their colleagues. If 218 House members sign the petition – a majority – that would force a vote on the bill. But Republicans in the majority who sign are bucking the president and party leadership. Assuming all Democrats sign the petition, Massie said he has 216 signatures, including four Republicans: himself and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. "The truth needs to come out," Greene told reporters about the "unimaginable horrors" that Epstein's victims endured. Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Joey Garrison and Josh Meyer This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What to know about the House battle over Epstein files release
