House Advances Bill Forcing DOJ to Release Epstein Files After Months of GOP Infighting

The House of Representatives took a major bipartisan step Tuesday, ordering the Justice Department to publicly release all investigative files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after months of internal GOP conflict, pressure campaigns, and public disagreements over transparency surrounding the case.

The measure passed with overwhelming Republican support, with only one GOP lawmaker voting against it. The dramatic shift comes after extended efforts within the GOP to halt the proposal, led by Rep. Thomas Massie with support from Democrats including Rep. Ro Khanna. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune must decide whether to advance it.

President Donald Trump has indicated he will sign the bill should it reach his desk, despite previously calling the renewed push around the Epstein files a “Democratic hoax.” In recent days, Republican leadership began to acknowledge that blocking the measure could lead to an embarrassing defeat on the House floor, prompting a late reversal in strategy.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had spent months arguing the proposal lacked adequate privacy protections, ultimately backed the measure and encouraged Republicans to do the same. Johnson said he hopes senators add additional protections for victims should they take up the bill.

The vote represents a significant win for Massie, who for months faced criticism, personal attacks, and political pressure from factions within his own party. Massie said Tuesday that the coalition pushing for the bill had fought “the president, the attorney general, the FBI director, the speaker of the House and the vice president” before gaining broader support.

Other Republicans echoed the call for transparency, including Rep. Kevin Kiley of California and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, who said the measure aligns with efforts to hold offenders accountable.

The lone vote against the bill came from Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who argued the language threatens the rights and privacy of innocent individuals connected to the investigation.

The bill’s progress follows significant grassroots pressure, with critics—in both parties and across the country—accusing the administration of withholding promised information on Epstein’s network and the circumstances surrounding his death. That frustration led Massie and Khanna to use a procedural tool known as a discharge petition, forcing House leadership to bring the bill to a vote after securing the required signatures.

Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva provided the final needed signature and said the effort reflects a national demand, not a partisan fight.

If approved by the Senate, the legislation would compel the Justice Department to release documents that have fueled public speculation for years, including communications, investigative findings, and internal records.

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