WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill calling for the release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by a vote of 427-1, with only Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins voting no. Epstein survivors were in the House gallery crying and cheering when the bill passed, The Hill’s Emily Brooks reports. The bill, which requires the Department of Justice to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,” now heads the to the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he will move for the upper chamber to “immediately take it up and pass it — period.”
“Republicans have spent months trying to protect Donald Trump and hide what’s in the files. Americans are tired of waiting and are demanding to see the truth. If Leader Thune tries to bury the bill, I’ll stop him,” Schumer said.
It remains to be seen whether Thune will do so, considering Trump has urged House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files and pledged to sign the bill if passed. Republicans had initially opposed releasing the files as Democrats pushed to do so, claiming the files implicated Trump. Trump on Monday said he was tired of the Epstein saga overshadowing his administration’s accomplishments, and claimed that releasing the files would hurt Democrats more than Republicans.
Trump’s about-face seems to have turned the tide among Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who had previously urged his party to oppose the release.
The bill requires the Justice Department to release materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s reported associate and convicted sex trafficker, as well as “flight logs and travel records,” and “individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.”
The Justice Department is permitted to withhold certain information, such as victims’ personal information and materials that would “jeopardize an active federal investigation,” the bill summary noted.
The bill summary said 15 days after the required publication, the DOJ must report “all categories of information released and withheld, a summary of any redactions made, and a list of all government officials and politically exposed individuals named or referenced in the published materials.”
On Monday night, Khanna said the “swamp” is “trying to get it amended in the Senate.”
“Anyone who tried to amend a bill POTUS says he will sign is betraying the survivors,” Khanna said.
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