House Votes Overwhelmingly to Compel Justice Department to Release Full Jeffrey Epstein Files
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 427-1 to compel the Department of Justice to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation, marking a decisive victory for advocates of transparency and sending the legislation to the Senate. The near-unanimous outcome follows a dramatic reversal of opposition from President Trump and House leadership.
The House of Representatives delivered a massive, near-unanimous bipartisan vote on Tuesday, passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act by a margin of 427 votes to 1, a measure that forces the Justice Department to publicly release all unclassified records, communications, and investigative materials concerning the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The legislation, which mandates the release of the documents within thirty days of being signed into law, is the culmination of a monthslong, contentious effort led by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna that successfully circumvented the initial opposition from President Trump and House leadership. The President abruptly shifted his position over the weekend, declaring his support for the bill after it became clear the measure had garnered enough cross-party backing to force a vote on the House floor.
The single dissenting vote came from Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who argued that the bill, in its current form, inadequately protects the privacy of thousands of innocent individuals, including witnesses, family members, and those who provided alibis who are named in the files but not implicated in criminal activity. Despite House Speaker Mike Johnson voting in favor of the bill, he echoed Higgins’s concern, asserting that the legislation contains “serious deficiencies” and publicly called upon the Senate to amend the bill to include stronger protections for victims who wish to remain anonymous. The overwhelming House vote has now transferred intense pressure to the upper chamber. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, has yet to make a definitive commitment to bringing the bill to an immediate vote, though Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, has pledged to move on the floor to take up the measure immediately. President Trump has stated he would sign the legislation if it successfully passes both chambers of Congress.
