House Votes 427-1 to Release Epstein Files Amid Political Turmoil

A near-unanimous vote in the U.S. House of Representatives has mandated the release of all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein. On March 12, 2024, the House passed the resolution with a tally of 427-1, sending it to the Republican-majority Senate for consideration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that the resolution could pass his chamber by unanimous consent, potentially as early as Tuesday afternoon.

The vote came amid a heated political backdrop, as relations between Donald Trump and some of his staunch supporters have become increasingly strained over the Epstein files. Before the vote, approximately two dozen survivors of Epstein’s alleged abuse, accompanied by bipartisan lawmakers, gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to advocate for the records’ release. Holding photographs of themselves from the age they first encountered Epstein, the survivors expressed hope that the resolution would lead to justice.

The Epstein scandal has been a persistent challenge for Trump, particularly as he has previously amplified conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s connections to powerful figures. Many within his base have voiced concerns that his administration has concealed details about Epstein’s death, ruled a suicide in 2019 while he was incarcerated.

Trump’s response to inquiries about Epstein has been combative. On the same day as the House vote, he reacted angrily to a reporter’s question, labeling the journalist a “terrible person” and calling for the revocation of the network’s broadcasting license. “I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” he stated during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He emphasized that he had severed ties with Epstein years prior, referring to him as a “sick pervert.”

Despite Trump’s previous connections to Epstein, including their socializing in the 1990s and 2000s, he has distanced himself from the scandal, now characterizing the matter as a “Democratic hoax.” As the political discourse intensified, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that only 44% of Republicans approved of Trump’s handling of the Epstein matter, significantly lower than the 82% approval rating he received for his overall performance.

Survivors, including Jena-Lisa Jones, who alleged abuse by Epstein at the age of 14, expressed disappointment in Trump’s behavior regarding the issue. “Please stop making this political, it is not about you, President Trump,” she stated at a press conference shortly before the vote. Jones criticized the president for what she described as a national embarrassment.

Trump’s about-face on the matter was seen as an attempt to quell internal Republican disputes over Epstein. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who championed the effort to force the vote, accused the U.S. Justice Department of “protecting pedophiles and sex traffickers.” He asserted, “We will know when there are men, rich men, in handcuffs, being perp-walked to the jail. Until then, this is still a cover-up.”

Despite Massie’s advocacy, House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously resisted calls for disclosure. Only one lawmaker, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, dissented in the vote. The tension surrounding Trump’s response also affected his relationship with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, who publicly criticized the Justice Department for its lack of transparency regarding Epstein.

Following the vote, emotional scenes unfolded as the survivors celebrated the decision. The family of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Epstein who passed away earlier this year, expressed gratitude. Her brother, Sky Roberts, urged Trump to release the files without delay. “The reality is, right now, he could release the files today if he really wanted to,” he said, questioning the necessity of sending the resolution to the Senate.

As the political fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to unfold, the release of these records may provide clarity to the ongoing debate and potentially hold powerful figures accountable.