In a sweeping move sending shockwaves through Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 427 to 1 in favor of compelling the Justice Department to release all files relating to the late financier and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The decision is widely seen as a dramatic setback for President Donald Trump and his allies, per Bloomberg.
After months of mounting public pressure and emotional appeals from survivors, the bipartisan legislation, dubbed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, sailed through the chamber. The vote, as noted by BBC, marked a rare moment of near-universal agreement on one of the most contentious issues facing Congress in recent years. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate will be decided before reaching Trump’s desk for final approval.
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Trump, who previously said that the drive to release the files was a distraction orchestrated by Democrats, changed his mind and urged House Republicans to support the measure. This turnaround came after weeks of heated debate, and after thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents, some mentioning Trump, were disclosed to the public last week. While the released documents included damaging allegations and salacious claims, none have directly implicated the president so far.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse watched the proceedings anxiously from the gallery. Annie Farmer, one of the high-profile survivors, described the moment as the culmination of years fighting against what she called “institutional betrayal.”
Speaking during a news conference at the Capitol, Farmer and others called for total transparency, demanding justice not just for themselves but for other victims of powerful abusers. Democrat and Republican lawmakers alike acknowledged their courage, with Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has distanced herself from Trump lately, criticizing congressional failures to address the cover-up and alleged intimidation faced by transparency advocates.
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Despite widespread celebration, a lone Republican, Representative Clay Higgins, voted no, warning that the broad release could unjustly hurt innocent bystanders, witnesses, and family members named in the Epstein files. He insisted that thorough oversight and privacy protections for those not criminally implicated remain paramount if the bill returns to the House for final revision.
Speaker Mike Johnson echoed some concerns, labeling the vote a “show” by Democrats and cautioning that the public release of the Epstein files should not serve as a political weapon. He defended Trump’s position, stating that the former president “had nothing to hide.” Nonetheless, the House’s veto-proof majority means that even a Trump veto, should it occur, could be overridden. It could even serve as a sign of the president’s waning influence over his party.
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The battle over the Epstein files has become a defining moment in the current election season, where transparency and accountability regarding Epstein’s ties to the powerful have emerged as key voter concerns. As the bill awaits action in the Senate, both supporters and critics agree on one thing: the American people have waited too long for answers.
With the promise of full disclosure now hanging in the balance, Washington awaits judgment. And it can reshape the nation’s political landscape and bring long-sought justice and accountability to survivors everywhere.
