The House passed legislation on Tuesday that would force the Justice Department to release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with a 427-1 vote that was as lopsided as it was telling. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) cast the sole dissenting vote, and his explanation hints at why this fight may drag on longer than people expect. The Epstein Files Transparency Act gives the DOJ 30 days to comply once President Trump signs it. But it may be more complicated than that.
Higgins had concerns over the privacy of the victims and had been hoping the Senate would send back a version of the legislation with some amendments.
“As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc.,” he wrote. “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.”
He added, “If the Senate amends the bill to properly address the 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.”
But the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, which means it now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature. Still, it’s not that simple either. According to a report from Axios, “The measure will land on Trump's desk as early as Tuesday — but don't expect to see the release of the Epstein files right away.”
The bill allows DOJ to withhold information that could interfere with an ongoing federal investigation, meaning Trump's recent demand that the DOJ investigate Epstein's ties to other powerful figures could halt the process.
DOJ could argue that releasing the files now would compromise that investigation.
Over the weekend, Trump wrote on Truth Social that House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, arguing that Republicans have nothing to hide. The real issue is that Democrats do. Look at what just happened this past week. Oversight Committee Democrats put out a cherry-picked batch of emails they claimed would damage Trump, but many were doctored or stripped of context. When Republicans answered by dropping more than 23,000 documents, Democrats erupted—and it wasn’t hard to see why. The full release showed Epstein’s deep dislike of Trump. It also exposed his cozy ties with powerful Democrats, including former Treasury Secretary and Obama economic adviser Larry Summers, Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands, and former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. The Democrats have skeletons in Epstein’s closet.
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That’s why I don’t think the release will happen quickly… or at all. It’s obvious Democrats don’t want these records public and likely tried to drag things out to keep weaponizing innuendo against Trump. Their track record shows they’ll push any tactic that helps them. Trust me, there are more high-profile Democrats who were connected to Epstein and maintained relationships. Trump, however, was the one who actually severed ties with him. So, I’m sorry to say, I think the votes today were for show. I think Democrats will find a way to prevent the release of the files, blame Trump, and continue selectively leaking what they can.
