The U.S. House of Representatives effectively passed, by near unanimity, a bill compelling the Justice Department to release records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Democratic Party, which has raised suspicions linking the Epstein case to U.S. President Donald Trump, voted in favor, and the ruling Republican Party also delivered an overwhelming yes vote.
On the 19th (local time), the House (435 seats) passed the bill in a floor vote, 427 in favor and 1 against. The bill was co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, and Republican Rep. Clay Higgins, known as a fervent supporter of President Trump, was reportedly the only no vote.
The bill that passed the House will take effect formally after a Senate vote and the president's signature. The Senate is expected to vote as early as the same day, and earlier, President Trump signaled he would sign the bill without a veto if it finally passes.
President Trump and the Republican leadership had dismissed calls to release Epstein documents as "a Democratic scam," working to block a vote on the bill. But on the 16th, Trump abruptly urged Republican lawmakers on social media to vote yes, reversing course. As a push to pass the bill surfaced even within the Republican Party, it is seen as a hard-line move by Trump after his options narrowed.
The same day at the White House, during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump was asked about the matter by reporters and said, "I have nothing to do with Epstein," reiterating that "the Epstein issue is a Democratic scam."