In a dramatic political upset that sent shockwaves through Washington, Indian-origin Congressman Ro Khanna has emerged as the architect of one of President Donald Trump's most significant setbacks this year. The House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke, voting 427 to 1 to force the release of the long-concealed Jeffrey Epstein files, a move that reportedly "ripped MAGA apart," according to former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The Unlikely Coalition Builder
At the heart of this political earthquake was Ro Khanna, a Democrat from Silicon Valley who spent months meticulously building an unusual coalition across party lines. His Republican co-sponsor, Thomas Massie, initially gave their effort a mere "about 4 per cent" chance of success. Yet Khanna's persistence paid off, placing him directly in the national spotlight as the Democrat who delivered Trump a defeat on an issue the president once claimed to champion.
Khanna has long championed bipartisan cooperation, often appearing on conservative platforms to make his case. This habit earned him friendlier treatment on the right than among some Democrats, but in the battle to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, it became his decisive advantage. On the morning of the historic vote, Khanna noticed that Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie were trending online while he was not. He revealed that keeping Democrats in the background was a deliberate strategy to win Republican support, stating, "It feels like you can make a difference in Congress."
The coalition Khanna built ultimately moved faster than Donald Trump himself. The president only endorsed the effort at the last minute, writing that Republicans should release the files "because we have nothing to hide." By that point, the overwhelming vote was already inevitable.
A Shift in Perspective: Meetings with Survivors
Khanna said he initially took up the Epstein files issue because it aligned with his broader attacks on elite networks that, in his view, manipulate systems to protect themselves. However, his perspective transformed dramatically after he began meeting with Epstein survivors in his office.
He described hearing "emotionally horrific" accounts from women who carried guilt for introducing friends to Epstein or who had blocked out memories of their own abuse. These conversations fundamentally reshaped his understanding of the issue and made him regret not acting sooner. "Had I met the survivors in 2019 or 2020, I would have been more vocal in the Biden administration," he admitted. "I think it is a fair point that all of us should have been more vocal earlier."
Survivors deeply appreciated Khanna's work. Haley Robson, who helped organize others, acknowledged, "If it wasn't for Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ro Khanna, I don't think any of this would have been possible." She described him as someone who "stands for justice."
National Spotlight and 2028 Presidential Prospects
Khanna has never concealed his interest in a larger national role and has openly entertained the idea of a 2028 presidential bid. He said the Epstein vote proved he could deliver tangible results on issues that cut across partisan lines. "The knock on me from some is: 'Okay, Ro, you can write books on this, you can write op-eds on this, but can you really, brass tacks, get things done?'" he said. He pointed to getting "MAGA on board" as concrete proof of his effectiveness.
Khanna's political network is notably diverse, spanning figures from former Trump advisor Steve Bannon to Bill Kristol and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. He believes media attention was crucial to their success, stating, "If there was no media attention to this, this thing would never have gotten a vote."
Associates of Barack Obama say the former president continues to monitor Khanna's career, viewing him as a rising Democrat with significant national potential. Khanna has not spoken to Trump since January 2021 and does not know whether he will be invited to the bill signing. He expressed confidence that Trump cannot "wiggle out" of releasing the files, as too many lawyers and officials know their contents.
The documents are believed to contain a compilation of dark secrets about Epstein's "island," including allegations of underage children, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, and more. Even Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's long-time associate, is expected to watch the situation closely from prison.
