WASHINGTON – California Democratic U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna says a bipartisan House push on the Epstein Files Transparency Act 2 that could strengthen New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez’s lawsuit for unredacted DOJ files is partially to blame for why House Speaker Mike Johnson cancelled the last two weeks of September session.Congress is headed to recess, but Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna and Teresa Leger Fernandez and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie are still working to force a House vote on legislation they co-sponsored.The Epstein Files Transparency Act 2 would in part allow state attorneys general, district attorneys, and others to sue the Department of Justice for failing to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.That legislation would likely bolster the case of New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who is suing the Department of Justice to get unredacted files related to Epstein’s activities in New Mexico.“He is leading the charge as one of the most assertive Attorney Generals around the country on this issue,” Khanna said on Saturday.Khanna, Massie, and New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez are pushing for a discharge petition.It would force the act out of committee and onto the full House floor without House leadership’s approval. The petition requires 218 signatures, and Khanna said as of Saturday it had more than 100 right now.While Khanna says logistically the group won’t be able to get the signatures by the time congress breaks for recess, he hopes the group can get signatures while Congress is on break and pass the bill in November.
He alleges the legislation is a key reason why House Speaker Mike Johnson called an early September.“Johnson sees that this is one of the most unpopular issues going into the midterms, people hate the corruption,” Khanna said.
Khanna also said he believes Johnson was trying to skirt votes on the war in Iran and votes on an AI regulatory agency.
Rep. Thomas Massie has implied on social media that Johnson called a recess over the Epstein legislation.
Speaker Johnson told reporters earlier this month that members wanted to return to their districts so they could campaign ahead of key midterm elections. The house speaker also said the senate was backed up with hundreds of pieces of legislation.
KOB reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.
