Photo: Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly, 423-1, to release the Department of Justice's files on Jeffrey Epstein. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., was the only lawmaker to vote against the measure.
Higgins explained his decision in a post on X, noting that he would support an amended version of the bill the protects the privacy of those "who are named but not criminally implicated."
The bill, which now heads to the Senate, mandates the public release of all investigation files related to Epstein, the deceased sex criminal. The names of the victims will be redacted to protect their privacy.
House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the bill, though he described it as "recklessly flawed" and expressed a desire for the Senate to amend it to better protect victim privacy. Johnson stated, "I'm gonna vote to move this forward," emphasizing the need for maximum transparency.
The bill gained momentum after Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., signed a discharge petition, allowing the House to force a vote without leadership or committee approval. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have been key advocates for the release of the files.
President Donald Trump expressed his support for the bill, stating he would sign it if it reached his desk. "We'll give them everything," he said, indicating his willingness for the Senate to review the files.
The bill's passage in the Senate remains uncertain.
The bill requires the Department of Justice to release the files within 30 days. Lawmakers and Epstein survivors have urged Congress to support the bill, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the investigation.