Thomas Massie by spearheading the petition is putting his ass on the line (unless on some deeper level this is just performative politics with results already predetermined) whereas Ro Khana at worst will get some pats on his back even if they lose. So cosponsoring or signing is not the same level of involvement as a republican masterminding this motion, to start with.

As to the issue of what can be done: At a very basic level, do you really believe that democrats have done a better job of keeping the drumbeat on the Epstein files? I would at best say they might be on par with republicans which is a shameful record given that %100 democrats are apparently for releasing the files where as a much less percent (perhaps %10) of he republicans are openly voicing their support. If 200 democrats create the same amount of noise that 20 republicans do, I have the right to suspect that they are just doing their bare minimum so that they (or their donors) don't get implicated. They should be throwing all they have to identifying and using public and personal pressure points and giving political assurances. They only need two more fucking republicans on board with at least 20 already existing sympathetic to this cause. I don't know what to call this if they can't find something to counter Trump's threats.

On the other hand, it has been ~~nine~~ six months since Trump took office and Massie's was perhaps the only serious attempt to get the files released. Get this, one serious attempt masterminded by a republican, supported by a democrat. Bernie has filed more "Stop Arms Sales to Israel" motions in this period (all btw rejected by more than %70 of democrats and %100 of republicans). I know motions don't mean anything when you don't have majority but it can help keep the public pressure and help sway republicans who are on the fence.

By the way you are reacting to me, I guess that you are imagining I was one of the people who said not to vote for democrats during elections. On the contrary I kept saying the opposite for months on end To me it was a very clear optimization problem with two outcomes one clearly worse than the other. But now the elections are over, democrats should be harshly criticised for their inaptitude or even for their performative politics so people don't have to choose between hell and status quo (which is the pathway to hell) next time.