The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation Tuesday compelling the Justice Department to publicly release files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, passing the measure 427-1 after months of delays.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) cast the sole vote against the bill, citing concerns that its current language would expose thousands of innocent people — including witnesses, alibi providers, and family members — to harm.
“I have been a principled ‘NO’ on this bill from the beginning,” Higgins posted on X. “What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America. As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people.”
The Louisiana Republican said he would support an amended version that protects victims and others not criminally implicated.
“If the Senate amends the bill to properly address privacy of victims and other Americans, who are named but not criminally implicated, then I will vote for that bill when it comes back to the House,” he continued.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act would require the Justice Department to release the documents within 30 days of enactment, with exceptions for survivors’ personal information and certain sensitive material.
The vote followed a discharge petition that forced the issue to the floor after months of stalling. All Democrats and four Republicans signed the petition last week, reaching the 218-signature threshold.
President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed support for releasing Epstein-related files during his campaign, then opposed it, dropped his opposition earlier this week, clearing the way for broader Republican backing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) voted for the measure but called it a “political show vote” pushed by Democrats and said he expects the Senate to correct “serious deficiencies” in the text.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), the bill’s lead sponsor, urged the Senate not to block disclosure.
“If you want to add some additional protections for these survivors, go for it,” Massie said Tuesday, Newsweek reported. “But if you do anything that prevents any disclosure, you are not for the people and you are not part of this effort.”
Senate Republican leaders have not committed to taking up the legislation. If the Senate passes it unchanged, the bill would go to Trump, who said he would sign it.
Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Public demands for the release of investigative files have persisted amid speculation about powerful figures connected to the financier.