House approves Epstein files bill in 427–1 vote, pushing DOJ to release records
WASHINGTON, DC: The House voted 427–1 on Tuesday to compel the Justice Department to release Epstein-related records, ending months of delay amid fierce political battles over transparency and accountability.
Only Rep Clay Higgins voted against the measure. President Donald Trump dropped his opposition as Republican support swelled, clearing political space for more members of his party to back the bill.
Ahead of the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson again voiced concerns about “serious deficiencies” in the legislation but said that he would vote yes. “We’ll send it to the Senate and we’ll hope it is corrected,” he said, still calling the push a “political exercise” by Democrats.
Partisan tensions erupt as debate over Epstein files bill opens
Republicans and Democrats traded sharp accusations before the vote.
Rep Jim Jordan argued that Democrats were “obsessed” with damaging Trump and urged a yes vote simply to “move on” to other priorities.
Oversight Chair James Comer defended his committee’s parallel probe, boasting of 65,000 pages of documents, 13 subpoenas, and interviews with ex-Attorney General Bill Barr and former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta.
He accused Democrats of “mischaracterizing” testimony to harm Trump.
Democrats countered that Trump could release every file immediately without waiting for Congress. “Trump has the power to release the files today,” said Rep Robert Garcia “What is Donald Trump hiding?”
Republican supporters praise rare bipartisan breakthrough
The Republicans who led the discharge petition were given floor time during an unrelated debate, a symbolic gesture marking their defiance of party leadership.
“Today is an extraordinary day,” said Rep Thomas Massie. “Justice will triumph over politics. Transparency will triumph over dark money. We’ll reclaim the people’s House with this vote.”
Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene called the fight “the biggest” of her five years in Congress. “It should have been the easiest thing for the speaker and the president to release every single file on behalf of these American women.”
Rep Nancy Mace said that the vote was “deeply personal.”
“To every Epstein survivor, to every woman who has been a victim of assault, today we see you,” she said. “This is about the powerless taking power away from the powerful.”
With the House approving the Epstein files bill by an overwhelming margin, attention now shifts to the Senate, where bipartisan pressure is expected to push for swift consideration.
If the bill clears the upper chamber, federal agencies will begin reviewing thousands of pages linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s network, preparing them for public release with minimal redactions.
President Trump had made it clear that if the bill passes Congress and reaches his table, he will sign it, ending months of stalemate over the release of Epstein files.
