The bipartisan supported Jeffrey Epstein files bill has been successfully passed by the House of Representatives, with only one dissenting vote citing concerns about potential negative impacts on innocent individuals.
Democrats and Republicans joined forces to approve the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” tonight. This legislation, backed by 427 members of the US House of Representatives, mandates the release of all files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein held by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump’s administration. The bill now moves to the Senate for further review before reaching the President’s desk for final approval.
The decision follows previous opposition from President Trump towards the disclosure of these documents, urging Republicans to endorse the bill, although one member of his party opted to oppose it.
Clay Higgins, the sole dissenter from Louisiana’s third Congressional district, a far-right Republican representative, defended his stance against the bill, emphasizing his commitment to upholding traditional US justice procedures. He expressed concerns that the current bill could jeopardize the privacy and safety of numerous innocent individuals involved in criminal investigations.
Higgins stated, “I have maintained my opposition to this bill from the start. The flaws I identified three months ago remain present today. This legislation could potentially harm thousands of innocent people, including witnesses, alibi providers, and family members. Releasing extensive criminal investigative files to the media could lead to unintended harm to innocent individuals.”
He further added, “I will not support this bill. The Oversight Committee is already engaged in a comprehensive investigation, having released over 60,000 pages of documents related to the Epstein case. Our efforts will continue to ensure the protection of innocent Americans. I will reconsider my stance if the Senate amends the bill to address the privacy rights of victims and individuals not implicated in criminal activities.”
With the bill’s overwhelming approval in the House, it is unlikely to return for further modifications. Senate leader John Thune confirmed the swift progression of the bill in the upper chamber, indicating limited prospects for alterations despite potential desires for adjustments from the House Speaker, given the significant 427-1 vote margin.