Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.185) to advance responsible policies.
A Republican resolution with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Motion to discharge the Committee on Rules filed by Mr. Massie. Assigned to the Discharge Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
Introduced, nothing more yet
Formally proposed, and not yet handed to a committee.
Nearly every bill is sent to a committee within days. Introduction alone is not a sign of support, of momentum, or of any likelihood of passing — any member may introduce any bill.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
A House resolution is the House speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the House agrees to it, it is officially the House's word; it is not a law, so the Senate and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
This resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 185, known as the "Epstein Files Transparency Act II." The bill amends an existing law to allow state officials and victims to sue the U.S. Attorney General for unlawfully withholding or redacting records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal network. It grants victims the right to access their own unredacted records and allows Members of Congress to request full access to these materials. Additionally, it establishes criminal penalties for DOJ or FBI employees who falsify or conceal required records. The bill also restricts the use of common law privileges to justify withholding information.
Yes
- Scored +9
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Significantly increases transparency by mandating the release of records and penalizing the concealment of documents.
- Scored +7
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Empowers state attorneys general and district attorneys to sue the federal government for access to investigative records.
- Scored +6
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Provides victims with a statutory right to access their own records and a legal mechanism to challenge government withholding.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this give the federal government more power?
Reduces the power of the Attorney General to withhold records and subjects federal officials to lawsuits and criminal penalties.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Legal Recourse for Victims: Victims can sue the Attorney General of the United States to obtain relief and attorney's fees if records relating to their harm are unlawfully withheld or redacted (Sec. 4(a)(1) and Sec. 4(b)(3)(A)).
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Direct Access to Records: Victims have the right to receive full, unredacted records and FD-302 files that identify or relate to them and their immediate family or legal guardians (Sec. 4(b)(1)).
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State-Level Enforcement: State attorneys general and district attorneys are authorized to bring actions to ensure records are not concealed or delayed, helping state-level investigations (Sec. 4(a)(1)).
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Accountability for Officials: DOJ and FBI employees, including the Attorney General and FBI Director, face fines or imprisonment for concealing, destroying, or falsifying records required under this Act (Sec. 4(f)(1)).
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Increased Transparency: The bill prohibits the use of common law privileges, such as attorney-client or law enforcement privilege, to withhold or delay the records (Sec. 4(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Privacy Risks for Other Victims: While the bill allows redactions for other victims, the process of producing unredacted records to state officials may still risk revealing personally identifiable information unless protected by a court order (Sec. 4(c)(2) and Sec. 4(c)(3)).
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Burden of Proof for Harm: To bring an action, a state or resident must demonstrate they experienced harm, which includes specific thresholds like financial harm exceeding $100 (Sec. 4(a)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Significantly increases transparency by mandating the release of records and penalizing the concealment of documents. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Empowers state attorneys general and district attorneys to sue the federal government for access to investigative records. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides victims with a statutory right to access their own records and a legal mechanism to challenge government withholding. Does this give the federal government more power? — Reduces the power of the Attorney General to withhold records and subjects federal officials to lawsuits and criminal penalties.
- 11/11/2026
- Motion to discharge the Committee on Rules filed by Mr. Massie. Assigned to the Discharge Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/31/2026
- Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Massie. Petition No: 119-27. (<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2026083127">Discharge petition</a> text with signatures.)
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- Submitted in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
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