In a landmark decision that signals a major shift in transparency around one of America's most notorious criminal cases, the United States House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to force the full disclosure of all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A Near-Unanimous Decision
The vote, which took place on November 18, 2025, demonstrated rare bipartisan agreement, with only a single dissenting voice. Clay Higgins, the United States Representative from Louisiana, stood alone in opposing the bill.
Following the vote, Higgins took to social media platform X to explain his position, arguing that the legislation "abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America." He expressed grave concerns that "this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt."
Overcoming Political Resistance
The path to this decisive vote was far from straightforward. The effort gained momentum in July when a small bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a petition designed to circumvent House Speaker Mike Johnson's control over which bills reach the floor for a vote.
This manoeuvre was initially considered a longshot, particularly as former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to dismiss the entire matter as a "hoax." Despite this significant political pressure, both Trump and Speaker Johnson ultimately failed in their attempts to prevent the vote from occurring.
Mounting Pressure and Presidential Concession
The successful House vote highlights the intense and growing pressure on lawmakers and the Trump administration to meet long-standing public demands for transparency. For years, victims' advocates and journalists have called for the Justice Department to release its complete case files on Epstein.
Epstein, a well-connected financier, was awaiting trial in 2019 on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls when he killed himself in a Manhattan jail. His death left countless questions unanswered about the extent of his network and activities.
In a significant development, the President has now bowed to the growing momentum behind the bill. The administration has confirmed that he will sign the legislation into law, but only if it also successfully passes through the Senate.
This story is developing, and further updates are expected as the bill moves to the Senate for consideration, potentially leading to one of the most significant document releases in recent American criminal history.
