The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a rare and consequential bill directing the Justice Department to publicly release the remaining files tied to the investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking a pivotal moment in a case long shrouded in secrecy.
The bill was passed following an ending vote of 427-1, with Rep. Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican who is a fervent supporter of Trump casting the lone “no” vote.
The vote followed months of resistance from Republicans and President Donald Trump, who had opposed forcing the administration to disclose records connected to Epstein’s alleged child sex trafficking network and his associations with prominent figures.
Survivors of Epstein were present in the chamber as the measure passed, with several becoming emotional as lawmakers cast their votes.
Latest Update: Senate unanimously approves bill to force release of Epstein files
The Senate has finally agreed by unanimous consent Tuesday evening to approve a House-passed bill to force the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
With the Senate approving the bill, the next step is sending the bill to President Trump’s desk for a signature.
Earlier in the day, survivors and advocates held a press conference sharply criticizing the president’s refusal to release the materials without legislative pressure. Their public push increased political strain on Capitol Hill, where internal divisions within the GOP began to surface.
President Trump has repeatedly claimed that Democrats are using what he called a “hoax” surrounding the unreleased records to draw attention away from Republican achievements. But following growing pressure from within his party, including from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of his strongest allies, the president reversed course on Monday and urged GOP lawmakers to support the bill.
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