Clay Higgins Voted Not To Release Epstein Files — Here’s Why

The House voted 427-1 on Tuesday to force the Justice Department to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files, and the lone “no” came from Republican Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins who says the bill endangers innocent people.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act would require DOJ to publish all unclassified records tied to the Epstein investigations. Congress’ summary says the department could still protect classified material and active probes. (RELATED: House Passes Epstein Files Transparency Act)

“If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt,” Higgins wrote Tuesday on X, explaining his vote. He added that he would support a Senate-amended version that better shields victims and uncharged Americans named in the files.

Higgins argued the House Oversight Committee is already releasing troves of Epstein material and should continue doing so “in a manner that provides all due protections for innocent Americans.” Committee Republicans said last week they released another 20,000 pages from the Epstein estate as part of their ongoing probe.

The near-unanimous House vote capped a months-long push led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna; Speaker Mike Johnson backed final passage but urged the Senate to add stronger privacy guardrails before sending it to President Donald Trump.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where leaders in both parties have signaled interest in moving quickly while haggling over redactions meant to protect victims and ongoing investigations.