Methodology & Sources

Data Verification Standards

Our Commitment: We follow official House records for all signature counts and procedural information. We correct errors within 24 hours of discovery. We never speculate about non-public victim identities.

Primary Sources

Official Records:
• House Clerk - Discharge Petition No. 9 (119th Congress)
• H.R. 4405 - JFK-style disclosure framework
• H.Res. 581 - Discharge rule vehicle

September 3, 2025 Press Conference Coverage:
• Reuters - "Epstein survivors urge Congress to force disclosure vote"
• The Guardian - "Survivors demand transparency at Capitol press conference"
• ABC News - "What is a discharge petition and how it could force Epstein files release"

Discharge Petition Mechanics:
• House.gov - Official explanation of discharge petitions
• Congressional Research Service - Discharge Procedures in Detail (PDF)

Signature Count Methodology

We track signatures using multiple corroborating sources:

Primary: House Clerk's official discharge petition page (updated daily when House is in session)
Secondary: Representatives' official statements and press releases
Tertiary: Verified news reports from mainstream outlets

Important Note: Signature counts shown on this site are static snapshots and may lag behind real-time changes. The displayed count of "217/218" represents confirmed signatures as of our last update on November 12, 2025, 5:09 PM ET. Rep. Adelita Grijalva will be sworn in on November 13, 2025 and will become the 218th signature, triggering a mandatory House vote in early December.

What Changes If These Pass?

Understanding the Process:

The discharge petition (H.Res. 581) is a procedural mechanism to force a floor vote. If successful, it would bring H.R. 4405 to the House floor for consideration. H.R. 4405 establishes:

A presumption of disclosure for all government-held Epstein records
Automatic redaction of minor victims' identities and re-identifying details
An independent review board including a survivor advocate
A public index documenting any withheld records and justifications
Firm deadlines for release (similar to the JFK Records Act model)

For detailed explanation of discharge procedures, see: ABC News Explainer

Corrections Policy

To report an error or submit a correction, please:

Open an issue on our GitHub repository
Include a source URL and timestamp
We review all submissions within 24 hours

Privacy & Ethics

We follow strict ethical guidelines:

Never publish non-public victim names
Focus on process and accountability, not speculation
Prioritize survivor voices and safety
Cite only verified, mainstream sources

Read our full Privacy & Safety Policy