Washington, Nov 19: The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill requiring the Department of Justice to release all case files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, CNN reported.
The legislation sailed through the House with a 427–1 vote, with only Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana opposing it. The bill will now move to the Senate, and if approved, it will be sent to President Donald Trump for final authorization.
Backed by both Republicans and Democrats, the Epstein Files Release Bill seeks to bring full transparency to the long-controversial case and provide justice for Epstein’s survivors.
Earlier in the day, Republican Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene held a press conference on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to support the measure. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse also shared their testimonies, reinforcing the need for public access to the files.
President Trump has expressed his support for the legislation, publicly urging Congress to pass it and pledging to sign it into law. CNN noted that the president’s stance marks a rare reversal, given previous reluctance to pursue the documents’ release.
However, Democratic Representative Robert Garcia criticised the administration for failing to act sooner. Garcia stressed that the president already holds the authority to release the files unilaterally.
“He has the power to release the files today. He has the power to release the files without a vote,” Garcia said.
The House’s decisive vote comes at a time when the Epstein case continues to generate national attention, balancing demands for transparency with the broader political dynamics in Washington.