(NewsNation) — The House overwhelmingly approved a bill on Tuesday demanding that the Justice Department release all files related to its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The vote was the culmination of a monthslong effort that advanced despite initial opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.
The legislation passed with only one no vote, from Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., who objected on the grounds that the files include information on innocent people.
“As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt. Not by my vote,” he said. “The Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough investigation that has already released well over 60,000 pages of documents from the Epstein case. That effort will continue in a manner that provides all due protections for innocent Americans. 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.”
Lawyers representing 11 Epstein survivors said this is just a first step in getting justice.
“I am very pleased with the almost unanimous vote in the House to release the files. This is just the beginning, however, and the fight for full exposure, accountability, justice, and closure for Epstein’s survivors is just beginning,” said lawyer Arick Fudali.
“We applaud the overwhelming House vote to release the files. President Trump has the power to release them today. Instead, the issue now goes to the Senate. We urge every senator to vote for transparency and accountability for the survivors,” Lisa Bloom said.
The push gained momentum in July when a small bipartisan group of lawmakers filed a petition to sidestep House Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote. At the time, the effort seemed unlikely to succeed, especially as Trump urged Republicans to dismiss the issue as a “hoax.” However, both Trump and Johnson ultimately failed to block the vote.
Under pressure, Trump over the weekend reversed course, saying that Republicans should support the bill and committed to signing it if it clears both chambers.
Johnson announced Tuesday his support for the bill, despite calling it “dangerously flawed.” He also raised concerns that it doesn’t adequately protect Epstein’s accusers or whistleblowers, and it may reveal confidential details.
“All the Republicans want to go on record to show for maximum transparency,” he said. But they also want to know that we’re demanding that this stuff get corrected before it has ever moved through the process and is complete.”
The bill will head to the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
What does the Epstein files bill do?
Johnson has pointed to an ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation into Epstein’s abuse, which has focused heavily on Epstein’s connections to Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton. The committee has subpoenaed the DOJ for its files, but Democrats say the department’s response has fallen short.
Under the bill, the DOJ would be required to release all files and communications related to Epstein, including information on the investigation into his death. Details involving victims or ongoing investigations could be redacted, but not information withheld for reasons of “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
The political reverberations of Epstein’s case have intensified since his death in 2019, as more individuals have come forward alleging abuse.
Accusers make final emotional push for passage
Earlier Tuesday, dozens of women who say they are Epstein’s victims shared microphones with House members as they called on more members to vote yes on the bill.
“I know everybody sees us today as grown adults, but we are fighting for the children that were abandoned and left behind in the reckoning,” Haley Robson said while holding up a photo of herself at the age she met Epstein.
Jena-Lisa Jones said Epstein “stole a lot” from her when she met him at the age of 14. “I was a child. I was in ninth grade. I was hopeful for life and what the future had held for me,” an emotional Jones said while holding up a photo of herself at age 14. “So just a little reminder there for everybody.”
Jones also criticized Trump’s directive: “I beg you, President Trump, please stop making this political. It is not about you, President Trump. You are our president. Please start acting like it.”
NewsNation’s Diana Falzone, Joe Khalil and the Associated Press contributed to this report.