U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R, KY-4), one of four Republicans to support the House petition to bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act to a floor vote. (Eric Lee/New York Times)
After months of deliberation, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 427-1 to require the Justice Department to release all of its files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with Republican Representative Clay Higgins (LA-3) being the only member to vote no on the motion, alongside five members who chose not to vote. Following this decision, the U.S. Senate agreed to pass the bill unanimously, marking the end of a months-long campaign by congressional Democrats and a select group of Republicans to release the files.
These results echoed Schumer’s aspirations from earlier Tuesday, in which he stated, “once the House passes the bill to release the Epstein files…I will move for the Senate to immediately take it up and pass it – period.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed with Schumer’s sentiment, saying he would put it on the floor “as soon as we can figure out where our members are.”
The House vote came after the entire Democratic House caucus and four Republican congressmembers signed on to a discharge petition to bring the issue to the floor of the House last week. The petition was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie (KY-4).
The bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, would force the Justice Department to release the files, aside from the names of the victims, within 30 days of the bill being signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein has served as a major talking point amongst the general populace, with 77% of the country in favor of releasing the files. This is due to the rumored belief that many people of celebrity or political status were involved in the scandal.
Following the Senate’s decision to pass the bill as well, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, stated, “It reminds me about what is commonly said by lawyers about bankruptcy. It happens slowly, and then all of a sudden.”
Trump, after calling the files a “hoax” earlier this month, changed his stance Sunday, urging Republican members of Congress to vote for the legislation, stating he will sign the bill if Congress passes it.
Trump’s desk will serve as the final stop for the bill.
