On November 18, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with an overwhelming 427-1 vote, requiring the Department of Justice to release all unclassified records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. The Senate approved it unanimously the same day via unanimous consent, sending it to President Trump’s desk.
The lone dissenting vote came from Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins, who argued the bill “abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure” and could harm innocent people named in investigative files. While House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans initially shared similar concerns, political pressure led most to vote yes to avoid accusations of blocking transparency. The House Oversight Committee has already released over 60,000 pages of Epstein-related documents, though critics say much of it was already public.
The Lone Dissent: Clay Higgins and the Epstein Files
When Congress voted 427-1 to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins stood alone in opposition
Timeline: How We Got Here
The Historic Vote Breakdown
Higgins’ Reasoning: Why He Voted No
Key Figures in the Transparency Fight
What the Bill Requires
The Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) mandates that Attorney General Pam Bondi release “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell no later than 30 days after the law is enacted.
Materials to be released include: internal DOJ communications, flight logs, travel records, and individuals or entities connected to Epstein. The Attorney General has authority to withhold information that would jeopardize any active federal investigation or identifies any victims.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier, was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019 in what a coroner ruled was a suicide. He was being held on charges of sex trafficking, having previously been convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
Trump and Epstein previously socialized in similar circles, but the president has stated he cut ties with Epstein before his 2008 conviction. The president has publicly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal misconduct.
Last week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published email chains, including correspondence between Epstein and Maxwell. Some emails reference Trump’s name in connection with individuals Epstein knew.
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died in April, stated in a 2016 deposition that she “never saw or witnessed Donald Trump participate in those acts” and wrote in her memoir that “Trump couldn’t have been friendlier” during their limited interactions. Speaking after the vote, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts praised his sister’s role in seeking justice for Epstein survivors: “She did it, she paved the way.”
Understanding the Controversy
What Was Covered
The House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427-1 on November 18, 2025, with the Senate approving it unanimously the same day. Rep. Clay Higgins cast the sole opposing vote, citing concerns about criminal justice procedures and the protection of innocent individuals mentioned in investigative files. The bill requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified DOJ records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment.
The legislation passed after President Trump reversed his initial opposition and indicated support for transparency. The House Oversight Committee has released over 60,000 pages of documents, though critics noted much material was already publicly available. Epstein survivors and advocacy groups have pressed for full disclosure, while lawmakers debated balancing transparency with victim privacy protections.
For ongoing coverage of the Epstein Files release and related developments, see our articles on Trump’s directive to AG Bondi and the MAGA base reaction to transparency demands.
