Unanimous Vote

Congress voted overwhelmingly to compel the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Context

Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced a discharge petition in July to force a vote on releasing Justice Department files related to Epstein. President Trump initially opposed the measure and called it a "hoax," but Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and other Republicans signed the petition anyway. On Sunday, Trump reversed his position and urged Republicans to support the bill.

House Support

The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support on Tuesday in a 427-1 vote with five abstentions. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced his support before the vote but called the legislation a "political stunt" and said it needed amendments in the Senate to protect victims who want to remain anonymous.