Timeline — H.R. 4405 / Public Law 119-38

A dated chronology of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, from introduction to ongoing DOJ non-compliance. Updated when new events occur.

2025

July 15, 2025 — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) introduces H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) as co-author. The bill is referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

September 2, 2025 — Rep. Massie files a discharge petition to force a floor vote on H.R. 4405, bypassing the committee process. Republican signers: Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Nancy Mace (R-SC). All sitting Democrats sign as well.

November 12, 2025 — Newly-sworn Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) becomes the 218th signature on the discharge petition, the threshold required to force a floor vote.

November 18, 2025 (2:43 PM) — The U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 4405 by a vote of 427-1. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA-03) is the lone NAY vote. Five members do not vote: Beyer (D-VA), Casar (D-TX), Sherrill (D-NJ), Rulli (R-OH), Womack (R-AR). House Roll Call 289.

November 18, 2025 (later that day) — The U.S. Senate passes H.R. 4405 by unanimous consent. No recorded roll call.

November 19, 2025 — President Trump signs H.R. 4405 into law as Public Law 119-38. The 30-day compliance clock begins.

December 19, 2025 — DOJ compliance deadline. The Department of Justice releases a partial batch with extensive redactions; the substantial body of files remains undisclosed. The DOJ is in violation of Public Law 119-38.

December 21, 2025 — Reps. Massie and Khanna threaten to draft inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for the DOJ’s failure to comply.

2026

February 2026 — The DOJ remains substantially non-compliant. The Attorney General publicly calls Rep. Massie a “failed politician” for continuing to press the issue.

May 2026 — Files remain largely unreleased. The great majority of the 427 members who voted YES have not publicly demanded enforcement of the law they passed.

Last updated: May 20, 2026. DOJ compliance status: still non-compliant.