Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene renewed her demand for the full release of federal records on Jeffrey Epstein after President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement and criticised her on Truth Social. The clash comes days before the House is due to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a vote forced by a discharge petition that reached the 218‑signature threshold on 12 November, according to the Washington Post and Reuters.
In a CNN interview on 16 November, Greene said the dispute with the president “has all come down to the Epstein files” and noted that security advisers had warned her about heightened risks linked to recent rhetoric. Reuters separately reported that she accused the president’s posts of fuelling threats against her.
The bill at issue, H.R. 4405, was introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie. It would require the Attorney General to publish, within 30 days of enactment, all unclassified Department of Justice materials related to Epstein in a searchable, downloadable format. The scope covers FBI files, materials concerning Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs and travel records, and references to individuals and entities linked to federal investigations and prosecutions. (Source: Congress.gov.)
The text sets clear limits on withholding. Records cannot be withheld for embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity. Permitted redactions are tightly drawn-covering victims’ personal information, child sexual abuse material, and material that would jeopardise active cases or properly classified national‑security information-each with published justifications. Within 15 days of publication, the Attorney General must report to Congress on categories released and withheld and list any government officials and politically exposed persons named in the materials. (Source: Congress.gov.)
Procedurally, the House is proceeding via a discharge petition, which compels a floor vote once a majority of members have signed. Speaker Mike Johnson said on 12 November that he would schedule the vote “as soon as we get back”, with House rules otherwise requiring seven legislative days before action. (Source: Washington Post.)
All Democrats and four Republicans-Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace-signed the petition. Khanna told reporters he expects 40–50 Republican votes once the measure reaches the floor, while Politico has reported GOP estimates that more than 100 Republicans could ultimately support the bill.
Trump has described the controversy as a “hoax” and, in posts on Truth Social, called Greene “wacky”, a “ranting lunatic” and a “traitor”, also signalling support for a primary challenger in her district. Reuters notes he was friendly with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s before a falling out; he denies any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Massie has accused the White House of trying to block the vote, and Axios has reported direct lobbying of Republicans to discourage signatures. House leaders have also advanced an Oversight Committee inquiry as an alternative-an approach backers of H.R. 4405 argue lacks the statute’s deadlines and publication duties.
If the bill clears the House, Senator Jacky Rosen has urged Majority Leader John Thune to schedule prompt Senate consideration. Should both chambers approve a final text, the legislation would then be presented to the president for signature or veto in the usual way.
For departments and agencies, the statutory timetable implies intensive triage of records and redaction decisions. The bill mandates written justifications for every redaction and requires unclassified summaries where national‑security restrictions apply. For survivors, names and sensitive files are protected; for third parties, a published list of officials and politically exposed persons named in the materials raises reputational and legal exposure. (Source: Congress.gov.)
Context remains contested but relevant to policymaking. The Justice Department’s inspector general has previously attributed Epstein’s 2019 death to negligence and misconduct at the federal jail, ruling out foul play; meanwhile, Trump continues to deny wrongdoing as scrutiny of historic ties persists.