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Sep 3, 2026· Updated

A Year After Trump Signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Thomas Massie Reads Fourteen Names Into the Congressional Record and Files a Second Discharge Petition — "Perhaps Hearing These Names Will Shame the Department of Justice Into Delivering Justice"

On the House's first night back from the August recess — August 31, 2026 — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stood on the floor and read fourteen names into the Congressional Record as people he described as Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators: Jes Staley, Leon Black, Les Wexner, David Copperfield, Lapo Elkann, Tom Pritzker, Glenn Dubin, Frédéric Fekkai, Edoardo Teodorani, Jean-Luc Brunel, Daniel Siad, Ramsey Elkholy, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) and Lesley Groff. "Perhaps hearing these names will shame the Department of Justice into delivering justice," he said. The next day he and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) opened a discharge petition on the Epstein Files Transparency Act II — the same maneuver the two used to force the original Epstein Files Transparency Act to a 427-1 House vote in November 2025, over Speaker Mike Johnson's objection. The follow-on bill, H.R. 9694, was introduced in July with Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). It gives state attorneys general standing to obtain the unredacted federal files they need to prosecute under state law, and makes it easier for survivors and members of Congress to sue the Justice Department over non-compliance. Massie's argument is that a year after the president signed the first act, DOJ is still withholding more than three million files. The petition needs 218 signatures; it had more than three dozen by the afternoon of September 1. Massie says he needs every Democrat plus at least three additional Republicans, and has speculated that Johnson will try to run out the clock by recessing the House until after the midterms. Not every Republican is biting — Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Massie's home-state colleague and now the state's Senate nominee, said he had already voted for release once and was "not interested in grandstanding."

“Tuesday I tweeted Mike Johnson would recess Congress until after the election in an attempt to stymie our latest Epstein bill. Johnson went on TV adamantly saying that was STUPID and we'd work every day. Today he announced we'll recess on Sept 17… until after the election!”
Thomas Massie (R-KY) · Sep 3, 2026

Trump Was Smuggled Off Air Force One in a Catering Truck to Escape an Iranian Threat in Turkey — and Congress Learned About It From the Press a Month Later

Leaving the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in July 2026, President Trump boarded Air Force One and then, at the direction of the Secret Service, quietly got back off. He was driven across the tarmac inside an airport catering truck — the kind normally used to load meals and supplies — and put aboard a smaller Air Force C-32A, which flew him out separately. The original 747 departed as a decoy, still carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, other White House staff and the traveling press corps. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew with Trump on the smaller jet. The trigger, according to officials, was intelligence about an Iranian cell with a shoulder-fired missile capable of downing the aircraft. None of it was disclosed at the time. The episode became public only on August 10, 2026, through reporting by The Washington Post and The New York Times, roughly a month after it happened. Trump confirmed it the next day, saying he was simply following the Secret Service — "I just follow what they'd like to do" — and downplaying the danger to the people left on the decoy: "I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. Because that would be the plane, I think, that they would be more likely to go for." White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the operation, saying the administration uses "every tool at our disposal." The bipartisan Gang of Eight — the congressional leaders and intelligence committee heads who receive the government's most sensitive briefings — was not told. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded an immediate classified briefing, calling it "unacceptable that Congress was kept in the dark." House Intelligence ranking member Jim Himes said flatly, "We were not briefed," and Sen. Mark Warner, his Senate counterpart, was not briefed either, according to his office. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called the episode "unprecedented" and "surreal," and Sen. Chris Coons faulted Trump for leaving his own Cabinet and the press aboard the decoy. Republican congressional leaders largely declined to comment.

“I understand putting a priority on the president's security, but frankly, this was just a despicable incident of disrespect for the press and for members of his own Cabinet.”
Chris Coons (D-DE) · Aug 13, 2026

Jul 15, 2026· Updated

DOJ Misses Deadline on Epstein Files, Less Than 1% Released

Despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act passing the House 427-1 and the Senate by unanimous consent, the Department of Justice has released less than 1% of documents one month past the December 19 deadline. Reps. Khanna and Massie, who drafted the law, say DOJ is in "flagrant violation" and sought appointment of a special master. Victims' advocates note that alleged abusers' names are redacted while survivors' identifying details remain visible. On January 8, 2026, Khanna and Massie wrote to Judge Paul Engelmayer asking him to appoint a special master to compel compliance, arguing the Department had "flagrantly and consistently ignored" the law's disclosure requirements since it was signed on November 19, 2025. They followed with a January 30 letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The standoff continued into the summer: on July 15, 2026, Massie, Khanna, Leger Fernández, Merkley and Luján introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which would give state attorneys general, victims and members of Congress standing to sue the DOJ over non-compliance, with sponsors saying more than 3 million files remained unlawfully withheld.

“The Trump Department of Justice has failed to comply with the law by releasing the Epstein files.”
Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) · Jul 15, 2026

Commerce Secretary Lutnick Testifies Before House Oversight on Epstein Ties

On May 6, 2026, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — the highest-ranking Trump cabinet member named in the Epstein files outside the president himself — appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door, four-plus-hour transcribed interview about his evolving account of his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick appeared voluntarily and admitted to a 2012 family lunch on Epstein's private island, contradicting his earlier claim that he had cut ties in 2005. Democrats called him a liar and demanded his resignation; GOP Chairman Comer said Lutnick was "very transparent" but also conceded he "wasn't 100% truthful."

“Of these millions and millions of documents, there may be 10 emails connecting me with him… over a 14 year period. I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person.”
Howard Lutnick (R-NY) · May 6, 2026

Fired AG Bondi Agrees to House Oversight Interview on Epstein Files

On April 29, 2026, the House Oversight Committee announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi has agreed to sit for a transcribed interview on May 29 as part of the committee's investigation into the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The agreement comes after months of conflict: Bondi had been subpoenaed for a deposition, skipped the scheduled appearance, and Democrats had introduced a contempt resolution. The format changed from a sworn deposition to a transcribed interview — meaning Bondi will not be under oath, but will be reminded at the start that making false statements to Congress is subject to criminal prosecution. Bondi was fired as Attorney General in early April 2026 amid criticism that she had over-redacted and withheld Epstein-related documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Democratic and Republican lawmakers had pushed for her testimony even after her ouster. House Republicans scheduled the May 29 date without initially informing Democratic members of the committee, drawing complaints from Democrats.

“Bondi's removal as Attorney General doesn't erase her obligation to testify and does not end Congressional oversight.”
Nancy Mace (R-SC) · Apr 29, 2026

DOJ Inspector General Launches Audit of Epstein Files Release Compliance

On April 23, 2026, the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General announced it is launching an audit to evaluate the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law passed in November 2025 that requires full disclosure of department files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Inspector General William Blier said the preliminary objective is to "evaluate the DOJ's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act." The audit follows months of complaints from lawmakers — including Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who co-led the transparency act — that the DOJ has over-redacted and withheld material. Victims have also said sloppy redactions exposed their identities, while critics allege information damaging to President Trump has been withheld. The audit launches under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, following the earlier ouster of AG Pam Bondi. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jeff Merkley, and Dick Durbin, among others, had written in December 2025 urging the OIG to conduct an independent review.

“Many of the documents DOJ allows Members of Congress to view remain redacted because they were received with redactions imposed by the FBI and US Attorneys, and Blanche has, as far as we can tell, neither requested nor obtained the original versions as required by EFTA.”
Thomas Massie (R-KY) · Apr 23, 2026