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House Overwhelmingly Approves Epstein Documents Release Despite GOP Holdout
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 427-1 on Tuesday to compel the release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with near-unanimous Republican support. The lone dissent came from Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins, who called the bill a "principled NO" and warned of its potential harm to innocent individuals linked to the case.
Bipartisan Moment on Capitol Hill
The resounding vote marked a rare display of bipartisanship in Congress, with only Higgins opposing the measure. Hours later, the Senate unanimously approved the legislation, sending it to President Donald Trump for final signature. The bill's swift passage followed Trump's decision to drop his earlier opposition to a vote.
Higgins, a staunch conservative first elected in 2017, argued the legislation would expose personal details of Epstein's victims, witnesses, and others involved in the investigation. "As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people-witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc," he wrote on X. He cautioned that releasing such files to the media could lead to "innocent people being hurt."
Unlikely Path to Approval
Initially, only four Republicans-Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene-joined Democrats in pushing for a vote. But the bill gained overwhelming GOP support after Trump signaled his backing. Higgins had hoped for Senate amendments, but Republican Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the possibility, stating, "When a bill comes out of the House 427 to 1 and the president said he's going to sign it, I'm not sure that amending it is in the cards."
Higgins' History of Controversy
Higgins, known for his conservative stance, has previously clashed with party leadership. In 2024, House Republicans censured him for inflammatory social media posts, including derogatory remarks about Haiti and its people. Facebook also removed two of his 2020 posts for "inciting violence" after he threatened armed protesters.
Before entering Congress, Higgins served in Louisiana's St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, resigning in 2016 amid criticism over a video where he brandished a rifle and issued threats against gang members. The BBC has reached out to Higgins' office for further comment.
"What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America."
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) via X
