House Poised to Vote on Release of Epstein Files After Months of Contentious Debate
The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on legislation that would compel the release of files related to the inquiry of Jeffrey Epstein, following months of intense pressure from Democrats, Republicans, and Epstein survivors. The move comes as former president Donald trump has recently voiced support for the bill, a shift from previous statements regarding the existence and accessibility of an “Epstein client list.”
The push for release has exposed deep divisions within both parties. Trump himself previously stated in february that the list was on his desk for review, but later clarified in July that he was referring to the broader collection of Epstein files. his current call for release is seen by some as an attempt to avoid a potential political setback, as a growing number of Republicans have joined Democrats in supporting the legislation.
The issue has been a meaningful point of contention in Congress, with Democrats consistently advocating for openness and Republican leadership largely resisting a vote. This resistance even sparked a rift within the MAGA movement, leading Trump to distance himself from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a staunch former ally, over her support for releasing the files.
“Watching this actually turn into a fight has ripped MAGA apart,” Greene stated at a news conference Tuesday.
Democrats have accused Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of delaying the swearing-in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), alleging it was to prevent her vote on a discharge petition that would force a floor vote on the release. Johnson has denied these accusations.
Should the bill pass both the House and Senate, the Department of Justice will then determine what details will be made public. Greene anticipates this will be the next major battleground. “The real test will be: Will the Department of Justice release the files? Or will it all remain tied up in an investigation?” she said.
Several Epstein survivors attended a news conference alongside lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of the vote for victims seeking accountability. Haley Robson, a survivor, expressed skepticism about trump’s recent support, stating, “While I do understand that your position has changed on the Epstein files, and I’m grateful that you have pledged to sign this bill, I can’t help to be skeptical of what the agenda is.”
The proposed legislation would prevent the Attorney General, including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, from withholding, delaying, or redacting records based on concerns about embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, even concerning government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries.
However, the bill contains caveats that could potentially allow Trump and Bondi to conceal certain records. In the spring, FBI Director Kash Patel directed a Freedom of Information act team to redact references to Trump from the files, citing his status as a private citizen and associated privacy protections at the time the investigation began in 2006, as reported by Bloomberg.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) asserted that the Trump administration would be acting illegally if they fail to release the files once the legislation is enacted.”They will be breaking the law if they do not release these files,” he said.
