Washington — Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed a discharge petition on Tuesday to attempt to force a House vote on compelling the release of files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, resurfacing the saga upon Congress' return .

Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced legislation in July that would require the Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days. They planned to force a vote on the bill once lawmakers returned from their lengthy August recess.

Although leadership controls the House's agenda and what legislation receives a vote, individual lawmakers can "discharge" legislation that has been sitting in committee. A discharge petition enables 218 members, a majority of the lower chamber, to provide their sig

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