House overwhelmingly passes bill to release Jeffrey Epstein files

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNBC

Published Tue, Nov 18 2025 9:48 AM EST Updated 25 Min Ago


The House on Tuesday voted nearly unanimously to order the Department of Justice to release all of its files on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, two days after President Donald Trump abruptly dropped his opposition to the bipartisan bill. The bill, brought by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., passed 427-1. It will now head to the Senate.

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., the only representative to oppose the legislation, said in an X post right after the vote that he has “been a principled ‘NO’ on this bill from the beginning.” “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,” he wrote.

The push to release the Epstein files had previously faced opposition from more GOP lawmakers, following the lead of Trump, whose White House had warned that backing the effort would be considered a “hostile act.”

While Trump on Sunday night suddenly urged House Republicans to vote in favor of the bill, he has continued to fume about the continued focus on Epstein in the media and on Capitol Hill.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/epstein-files-trump-house-vote.html

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Article updated.

Original article -

Published Tue, Nov 18 2025 9:48 AM EST Updated 1 Min Ago


The House on Tuesday voted nearly unanimously to order the Department of Justice to release all of its files on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, two days after President Donald Trump abruptly dropped his opposition to the bipartisan bill. The bill, brought by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, will now head to the Senate.

The push to release the Epstein files had previously faced opposition from GOP lawmakers, following the lead of Trump, whose White House had warned that backing the effort would be considered a "hostile act."

A discharge petition that would have forced a vote on the bill was jammed up during the government shutdown, as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., kept representatives out of session for nearly eight weeks. The prolonged absence delayed the swearing-in of Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, the final signature needed to move the petition forward.

The shutdown ended last Wednesday and Grijalva, after being sworn in, signed the discharge petition. But, with pressure mounting, Johnson said he would bring the Epstein bill to a vote earlier than expected.

[ancianita]

1. Almost unanimous... 427-1, 5 abstaining.

[RussBLib]

2. No shit?!

Holy shit!

[ancianita]

5. No shit! Here's the link.

Please excuse that it's a fox site.

[hadEnuf]

10. Well Trump told them is was okay to vote for release.

No courage on the Republicans part. The fix is in, only Democrats names will be released and Trump's name has already been erased. This will be like Mueller's report as presented by Bill Barr.

This is being presented by the same people who printed fake elector forms to bring to the Capitol. I don't know why we are expecting anything different.

[ancianita]

21. They'll try it and maybe get away with it for a while. But there are ways to read through redactions.

My money's on the Senate Intel Committee Dems probably having connections inside intel agencies and the FBI. If he puts "conditions" on signing the bill, that will be the last big tell. And when the truth eventually comes out, no matter how much the felon tries to deny, threaten or intimidate, this whole evil shitshow will stick to him like skunk stink the rest of his political life.

[hibbing]

45. Sadly, my thoughts too

It is sad that I have become so damn cynical. I don't know how younger people can have any optimism about anything at all in our current state.

[ancianita]

55. They have the most to lose, and with women were the biggest voting demographic on Nov 4.

We need to support what and who they support now. It's their time and we have to stand by them.

[hadEnuf]

56. The fact that Trump and the GOP have fought this release

every step of the way to the point of ruining their careers, shutting down government, blowing up fishing boats and every other dirty thing they can think of doesn't give me much faith in this sudden turnaround.

[InstantGratification]

27. I don't think this is going to matter much. My comment from another thread:

When dumpster fire directed Bondi to open an investigation to Democrats in the files, that was the clue. She opens those investigations and the House and Senate at large can be denied ALL access to the files. The House Oversight Committee and Senate Judiciary (I believe those are the relevant committees) can still subpoena files but the DoJ can deny any files they deem too sensitive to share due to the investigations. So DoJ can provide some files, hold back others and they don't even have to tell the committees that the withheld files exist!!!

The cherry on the top for dumpster fire is DoJ can release files that pertain to his enemies and not release those related to his allies. The Qanon crowd will eat it up: "We told you it was Democrats in those files. That's why Biden wouldn't release them!!"

[ancianita]

42. I believe you.

And when everything you say will happen, happens, the truth will still eventually come out. Because if anyone's got copies of those court files anywhere (and 3 letter agencies are good at sweeping up everything), this massive coverup will still be uncovered. Narratives on the facts and the truth have only held for so long. Even after Epstein went to his grave with secrets, many of them will still be known long after political narratives and lies die out.

[LiberalArkie]

15. The pedophile party really had no choice. It was going to be passed by the Democrats and self preservation

required that the Grand Ol Pedophile party vote with the Dems

[ancianita]

22. Not one Republican can go back to their states & get re-elected after voting no. That's why they know they had no choice

It was the felon who also really had no choice cuz he knew how the vote would go down without his "blessing.'

[LiberalArkie]

24. Eggxactly

[NotHardly]

28. It's got to get pass the Senate & Trump

I for one am not celebrating until all the files are made public.

[HighFired49]

49. Never happen as long as Dump is in office

I don't believe that the files will be released as long as Dump is in office, if ever. All they have to do is to start an investigation of one of the other actors in those files, or at least say that they are. They can then state that the files can't be released because of an ongoing investigation involving another person/persons in the case. Voila!! Problem gone. Dump is being just tooooo nonchalant about the whole issue at this point for me to feel like he is even mildly concerned about the situation..

[popsdenver]

54. Hell

the Republican Politicians can hardly wait to get rid of him, like all of us........

They are just stalling to have time to think through how they are gonna get rid of Vance, and corruptly and illegally install Steven Miller as president and Russell Vought as VP. I am sure the Republican USSC justices, and Senate Republicans will back them up...........

[Justice matters.]

61. The Guardians Of Pedophiles can't install anyone other than the 2nd in line.

Mickey the weasel Johnson.

[popsdenver]

63. Probably......

But if I had a hundred dollars for every time I said: "They can't do that"...........I would be worth more than Musk...LOL

My best "they can't do that' was when the USSC, without any legal or constitutional law, and in 2000 intervened the Florida election, and stopped the re-count.
It was purely at "states right" law that there be a re-count, and the USSC succeeded in shutting it down and literally deciding who should be president....votes be damned.

You may be 100% right, but that is no guarantee of the outcome, as we have seen time and time again these past decades, and it has accelerated this past decade, and gone into WARP speed the last 10 months.......

[Fullduplexxx]

3. Now on to the new excuses

[Bo Zarts]

4. The 1? Clay Higgins, of course.

Dumber that Tommy Tuberville

[SunSeeker]

11. He said he voted no because he is worried about the "innocent people" named in the files.

You know, the millionaires and billionaires who can't speak for themselves.

[TexasBushwhacker]

60. What about the innocent girls who were harmed?

[SunSeeker]

62. He doesn't give a shit about them. nt

[DeeDeeNY]

13. His reasoning included a reference to "a rabid media" --:

From Clay Higgins: "As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc. 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. Not by my vote.” !!!

[durablend]

18. Either on the list

Or does some family diddling himself

[vanlassie]

38. If you read his Wikipedia you will

get a feel for the guy. 🤮

[Wiz Imp]

6. Make no mistake, almost all of the Republicans (the 4 who signed the discharge petition excepted)

were cowards and hypocrites. They did not vote the way they believed. If they believed in the bill, there would have been no need for the discharge petition - it could have been brought to the floor for a vote at any time.

Since they knew it was going to pass, the were terrified of being seen as voting to protect pedophiles even though that's what they want to do. Hell, all the Republicans who spoke during the "debate" portion trashed the bill. So they vote YES on a bill they just trashed and we're supposed to believe they're being honest? They will continue to do everything they can to protect Trump and try to make sure the files don't get released.

[chowder66]

8. Agree but Trump did tell them to vote for it... also Johnson is trying to create a provision to exempt perpetrators...

Massie on Johnson: "He wants to create a provision of this law that would exempt the very people we're trying to expose -- the men who raped these women. He says, 'We'll make sure they are credible allegations.' Is he calling the survivors we witnessed today un-credible? That's the implication"

Massie on Johnson: "He wants to create a provision of this law that would exempt the very people we're trying to expose -- the men who raped these women. He says, 'We'll make sure they are credible allegations.' Is he calling the survivors we witnessed today un-credible? That's the implication"

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-11-18T19:35:12.431Z

[republianmushroom]

7. ABOUT TIME !

[FakeNoose]

9. Wow! This tide has turned

Chump can't stop this now ....



EDIT to ADD THIS SCREENSHOT:

Reps. Thomas Massie & Ro Khanna, and ALL the REST are WOMEN!

[LEMAUS]

16. Brave warriors who have survived some of the most horrific crimes .

[quakerboy]

20. Please

Trumps people will either stop the release somewhere else, or just gum up the process and only release parts that they feel are helpful to them or harmful to others.

[FakeNoose]

46. The Repukes who voted "yes" are under the impression that the Senate vote will be "no"

But what if they're wrong? The Senate could surprise everyone and vote "yes."
Let's make some noise ... send emails and phone calls to your Senators, everyone.

[quakerboy]

68. Were they?

No, if anything they are under the impression that trump has had plenty of time to sanitize the files of anything that is harmful to him/them

[ancianita]

25. Nice! Photos are good optics that stick in voters' memories.

[Bev54]

26. Ahhh, but he will do something. That is what this BS investigation into Clinton et al is about.

They can now use the excuse that they can't release the files because there is still an active investigation. It is all political theatre and people should not get sucked in. Anytime the republicans do what we think is the right thing, you will find it is not about that at all. They only do what they are told to do, no principles at all.

[HighFired49]

51. Sorry, you first

I replied to post #28 with nearly the same response before I saw your post.

[Bev54]

57. Not a problem all voices deserve to be heard.

[Linda ladeewolf]

34. There is a petition on Change.org

Demanding the release of all files that pertain to this.

[LEMAUS]

12. Finally some good news.

Long overdue for the release of the files. Justice for the survivors.

[samplegirl]

14. They have been

Scrubbed!

[orleans]

17. who are the 5 that did not vote? nt

[ancianita]

29. All Republicans. Just can't find their names yet, nor will, most likely for suspicious reasons.

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Here is the Roll Call vote - Not Voting were 3 (D)s and 2 (R)s

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025289?Page=2

Beyer Democratic Virginia Not Voting
Casar Democratic Texas Not Voting
Rulli Republican Ohio Not Voting
Sherrill Democratic New Jersey Not Voting
Womack Republican Arkansas Not Voting

[ancianita]

44. Thank you! Now we can ask them why.

Eventually their likely stories will come out.

[BumRushDaShow]

50. Well Mikie Sherrill is now governor-elect of NJ

so she might not have been in D.C. for this vote (she had been planning to resign from her seat, although the exact date wasn't given).

[ancianita]

52. Ah, thanks, I didn't catch that, being used to two of a number of names...

[orleans]

64. 3 dems, 2 Rs

found it tonight
michael rulli, R, ohio
gregorio casar, D, texas
donald beyer, D, virginia
mikie sherrill, D, new jersey
steve womack, R, arkansas

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/119-2025/h289

now i'm wondering why. i read mikie sherrill wasn't in DC but i don't know about the others

[ancianita]

66. right

Perhaps why they abstained doesn't matter as much as what they prioritize.
Since in AR and TX they're both up for re-election, it might be their opponents' spending on R voters that they're up against at the very same time their own base know their position on the Epstein files.
To me this vote looks like it's not about party division, just the priority of winning in their red state.

It's important to need to keep these red state opposition donors and R voters in mind when our D's run in 2026. And that they didn't get where they are easily, and so it's better to err on the side of trusting their judgment.

[BumRushDaShow]

67. Just found this article

Who voted 'no' on the bill to release the Epstein files?

Author: Chris McCrory
Published: 3:12 PM EST November 18, 2025
Updated: 4:54 PM EST November 18, 2025

(snip)

Who didn't vote on releasing the Epstein files?

Three Democrats and two Republicans missed Tuesday's vote.

Republican Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack confirmed he missed the vote because of "a family member’s serious medical issue" that required his presence at home. "After almost fifteen years with a perfect voting record, I am sad to report that my streak will end today," Womack said in a statement on Monday before the vote. Ohio Congressman Michael Rulli was the other Republican that didn't participate in the Epstein vote.

Democratic New Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, who was recently elected as governor of New Jersey, didn't vote and announced shortly after she'll formally resign her seat on Nov. 20. Democratic Virginia Congressman Don Beyer confirmed he missed the vote because he was sick "with a bad bug, but would've voted yes had my vote been needed for passage."

According to the official roll call, Democratic Texas Congressman Gregorio Casar also missed the vote.

Casar is the current Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (succeeding Pramila Jayapal after the 2024 election).

[ChicagoTeamster]

19. When will anything new actually be released? Will Trump block all the way to the Supreme court?

[IronLionZion]

23. Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins voted against the bill. Two Republicans and three Democrats did not vote.

Is he in the files?

[ancianita]

31. That's the question about those who abstained. Right? When their names are known they'll have some 'splainin' to do.

[Initech]

32. No but he appears on Fox News regularly.

Something about this stinks.

[Initech]

30. That 1 no vote is sticking out like a sore thumb!

Clay Higgins needs to be removed immediately!

[iemanja]

36. He's probably in the files. nt

[FakeNoose]

48. He's probably in a safe district

Most of these Repukes are scared they have to face their voters next year. Also they're counting on the Senate to vote "no". But I think the Senate vote will be closer than everyone thinks. They might even go "yes," and THEN what?
Chump is really in a bind at that point.

[Initech]

58. 100% he did this to get airtime on Fox and Newsmax and boost his profile.

Sick fuck.

[Warpy]

33. Up next: the Senate does everything in its power to prevent this from coming up for a vote

and, as we get closer to the election and they get scared, finally pass it just before the election recess.

At that point, Fatso does a pocket veto, the last step of his Profile in Cowardice. Because there is no drama to a pocket veto, there is little outrage to add fuel to the dumpster fire this country has become.

Don't worry, by then the tariffs will really be biting people with a 20% surtax on much of what they need to buy. There will be plenty of outrage besies being sold out by those false campaign promises to out himself as being in business iwth Epstein.

[iemanja]

35. Don't get too excited

Bondi has certainly scrubbed the names of Trump and GOP favorites. There is no way Trump would have backed down if not for that. Remember that they have no qualms about destroying documents and transcripts, as DOJ's behavior in the Comey and other trials have demonstrated.

[UT_democrat]

37. Full stop

If anyone believes anything that comes from any White House post Bush’s Florida recount debacle then you’re living in a fantasy world.

[awesomerwb1]

39. This is not normal.

Something shady is happening behind the scenes. Don't ever ever ever trust the gop. Ever.

[Wonder Why]

40. Now that their Fearful Leader has allowed it, the maggots come out of the woodwork to vote for it.

[Clouds Passing]

43. What menace does orange have up his sleeve?

[Evolve Dammit]

47. Epstein's brother is claiming that they are "scrubbing the files." Certainly months to do so.

[C_U_L8R]

53. Excuse me, Clay Higgins

Exactly what ‘principle’ compels you to protect pedophiles?

[SpankMe]

59. Too lopsided. Something's fishy

What do Republicans who voted for this know? If they thought there was something truly ugly in there about Trump, they wouldn't have voted for it. DoJ has had a ton of time and resources (plus AI) to go in there and alter every document. (When the files are released, it'll be a dump of pdf's, not original documents.) Why have Repubs become so comfortable all of a sudden to release these files? Have they been told that the files are "all cool now - you can vote to release"?

And Trump is suddenly in favor of their release. I just don't trust that Trump's DoJ will release unaltered files.

[Aussie105]

65. I'm not getting my hopes up.

There will be redactions, phantom edits, and files that 'accidentally' fell into a shredder long ago.
(Trickery to protect the innocent, you know, important people like Trump.)

There has been enough time for some sanitation to have happened.

I'm guessing getting to see unmolested flight logs to Epstein's Island of Illicit Pleasure is too much to ask?