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WHO ARE REPUBLICANS NAMED IN EPSTEIN FILES
Executive summary
Several news outlets report that a small group of House Republicans signed the discharge petition forcing a vote to release Justice Department files tied to Jeffrey Epstein; named Republicans who backed the petition include Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace (see The Guardian, CPR, Politico and other outlets) [1] [2] [3]. Coverage also shows a larger number of House Republicans were poised to break with party leaders and vote for release, prompting President Trump to reverse course and tell Republicans to support the measure [3] [4] [5].
1. Who Republican signers actually were — the visible names
Reporting consistently identifies four House Republicans who publicly signed the bipartisan discharge petition that forced the issue onto the House floor: Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑Ky.), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑Ga.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R‑Colo.) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) [1] [2] [6]. Multiple outlets highlight Massie as a lead GOP instigator of the petition alongside Democrat Ro Khanna and describe Greene, Boebert and Mace as high‑profile Republican backers [1] [2] [6].
2. Bigger context — many Republicans were prepared to vote for release
Beyond those who signed the petition, reporting shows a wider movement inside the GOP: some outlets estimated perhaps 100 Republicans were likely to vote for disclosure on the floor, creating real pressure on Republican leadership and the White House [3] [6]. That prospective bipartisan majority is the proximate cause of the leadership scramble described in national outlets [3].
3. Why the names matter politically
Journalists emphasize that signers include both Trump critics and loyalists; Massie is cast as a Republican-led challenger to leadership, whereas Greene and Boebert are prominent right‑wing figures whose support undercuts a simple “anti‑release” GOP narrative [6] [2]. Their involvement made the petition a cross‑factional move that exposed intra‑party fractures and complicated the party’s messaging around the president and Epstein [3].
4. The Trump factor — reversal and pressure on Republicans
Coverage documents a months‑long White House effort to block release and pressure Republicans, followed by a sudden presidential U‑turn ordering Republicans to back the bill when it became clear the vote would pass. That reversal is portrayed as forced by political reality — the expected defections within the GOP — not as a proactive choice [3] [4] [5].
5. What the named Republicans said or did — reported actions, not motives
The sources report actions: Massie led the petition push; Boebert left her name on the petition despite White House pressure; Greene publicly demanded release; Nancy Mace remained a signer as the petition reached the required threshold [2] [6] [1]. Available sources do not detail private motives for each lawmaker beyond public statements and their decision to sign or keep their name on the petition [2] [1].
6. Limits of existing reporting and what is not found here
None of the provided sources publish a comprehensive, verified “client list” of every person named in all Epstein files; Time and other outlets analyzed portions of released materials but the broader contents and any exhaustive roster are not fully documented in these pieces [7]. Also, while several outlets say “100 or more” Republicans might vote yes, they are estimates and vary across reporting [3] [6]. Available sources do not mention any exhaustive list beyond the specific Republican signees and the broader count of potential GOP votes [1] [3] [2].
7. Competing perspectives in coverage
Mainstream outlets portray the petition as bipartisan transparency and victims’ advocates’ victory, while Republican leaders (including Speaker Mike Johnson) expressed procedural and privacy concerns, arguing the Senate should add protections if the files reach that chamber [8] [4]. Some Republican voices framed the effort as a partisan “hoax” aimed at the president; others inside the party argued for disclosure to settle allegations [4] [3]. These competing framings explain why a small set of Republicans signing the petition had outsized political effect [4] [3].
8. Takeaway — names matter, but so does the wider revolt
The publicly named Republicans who brought the discharge petition into being are Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace [1] [2] [6]. Yet the decisive development was not just those names: it was the broader willingness of many House Republicans to break ranks — a dynamic that forced the White House reversal and ensured a floor vote [3] [5].