Recommendations of the Editorial team
After months of delaying tactics and attempted intimidation by Republican leadership, the House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday forcing the Justice Department to release the so-called Epstein files. The bill still has to pass the Senate. But the vote marks a bipartisan rejection of US President Donald Trump, who had initially urged his party to forget the Epstein issue and vote against the resolution, before backtracking over the weekend when it became clear she would be passed.
Background and voting
The vote of 427 to 1 was nearly unanimous. Only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) voted against it. “I have been a fundamental NO on this bill since the beginning,” the MAGA lawmaker wrote, adding that the “rabid media mob” will not handle the files responsibly and that the bill “will absolutely result in innocent people getting hurt.”
That historic vote — and the months-long struggle to bring the bill to a vote — exposed rifts between Trump and some of his closest allies. And continues to raise questions about the president’s relationship with one of the most notorious sex offenders in American history.
In a news conference with survivors shortly before the vote, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attacked the president, complaining that her support for transparency in the Epstein case appeared to have destroyed her relationship with him.
Statements from the MPs
“I was called a traitor by a man I fought for for six years. And I gave him my loyalty for free,” she said, adding, “I’ll tell you what a traitor is. An American who serves foreign countries and himself. A patriot is an American who serves the United States. Americans like the women who stand behind me.”
Lawmakers continued their criticism of Trump’s handling of the case on the House floor. “Trump has the power to release the files today,” said the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). “He doesn’t even need a vote. But he continues to defy the committee’s subpoena to release all files. What is Donald Trump hiding?”
What exactly are the Epstein files?
In the context of the vote, the “Epstein files” refer to evidence and statements collected by the Justice Department and the FBI during two investigations and criminal proceedings against Epstein.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor into prostitution and causing her to engage in prostitution. As part of a highly controversial deal with federal prosecutors. He died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, shortly after being charged in a separate case with sex trafficking of minors. The DOJ and FBI files reportedly include thousands of pages of witness statements, digital evidence, communications between Epstein and others, and possibly videos and images of sexual abuse of minors.
Why are the files so relevant?
Since Epstein’s death, only his close confidante and long-time partner Ghislane Maxwell has been charged and convicted in connection with his network. The lack of further investigations and prosecutions of others named by survivors as involved has further increased public interest in the files – as has the question of why federal prosecutors have not filed further charges.
Conservative and right-wing commentators have called for transparency regarding the government’s investigation into Epstein for years. They claimed Trump would release the files once he was back in office. But in July, the DOJ and FBI announced they would not file further charges or release additional files. A shock for many in Trump’s own movement.
Already published materials – where do they come from?
If Congress has to force the DOJ to release them, where do files like Trump’s page in the Epstein “Birthday Book” or the recently released emails come from?
They do not come from the DOJ, but from the Epstein estate.
Democrats on the Oversight Committee are working with the estate and survivors to release materials held by Epstein’s representatives.
These include the “Birthday Book”. Over 50 congratulatory letters, including a suggestive letter from Trump. As well as more than 20,000 emails between Epstein, Maxwell and others involved. These included, among other things, claims that Trump spent “hours” with a victim in Epstein’s home and was “the dog that doesn’t bark.”
What does Trump say?
Trump again accused Democrats of using the “Epstein hoax” to “distract from their bad policy decisions.”
“Epstein was a Democrat. And he is the Democrats’ problem, not the Republicans’ problem! Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman and Larry Summers,” Trump wrote.
Hours later he changed course. He suddenly urged Republicans to vote for publication. The reversal came after Trump’s failed attempt to prevent the so-called “discharge petition” process that made the vote possible.
What happens after the vote?
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it could pass with a simple majority. After that, it would end up on Trump’s desk. And the president has already said he will sign it.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Senate would “take its time” to make changes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, announced that he would bring the law to a vote “immediately.”