Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) launched a congressional petition on Tuesday to force a vote on their legislation to release the criminal files on deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The procedural move that defies House leadership’s wishes comes as Congress returns from its six-week district work period, and lawmakers are expected to face a hefty schedule as Republicans battle with their conservative MAGA base over how best to release the information related to Epstein. The convicted sex offender traveled in high-powered circles before his death in 2019 as he awaited trial for alleged sex trafficking of minors.