On November 18, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill by a vote of 427 to 1 to compel the Department of Justice to release all unclassified investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The only House Republican who voted against releasing the Epstein files was Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Records show he cast the sole “no” vote in the House.
Why Rep. Higgins voted “no”
Rep. Higgins explained his decision by expressing concerns that the bill as written would abandon long-standing criminal-justice protections and risk exposing innocent people—witnesses, alibi providers, family members—to harm if broad investigative files were released to the media. He stated that unless the bill is amended to better protect privacy, he will not support it.
Highlights of the vote and context
- The measure passed in the House overwhelmingly: 427 yes, 1 no.
- After the House vote, the Senate approved the bill via unanimous consent.
- Rep. Higgins was the only member to oppose the release despite broad bipartisan support and a shift in party leadership backing the measure.
- His objections centered on the bill’s scope and possible unintended consequences for non-accused individuals.
What this means moving forward
With the House and Senate passage, the bill now heads to the President for signature. Rep. Higgins’ lone dissent draws attention because it underscores internal GOP debates over transparency, victim protections, and the balance between public accountability and privacy. His vote may signal future efforts to amend the legislation or press for stronger safeguards before full implementation.
For readers interested in how Congress dealt with the disclosure of the Epstein files, the key takeaway is this: the only Republican who voted against releasing the Epstein files in the House was Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana—making his dissent noteworthy in a near-unanimous vote.
