Lone Republican Vote Against Epstein Document Release Sparks Controversy

Wed Nov 19 2025 15:12:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins stands alone in opposing a bill to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, citing concerns about victim privacy and the integrity of criminal justice procedures.

In a rare moment of congressional bipartisanship, the House voted overwhelmingly in favor of releasing documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein, with only one 'no' vote from Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Higgins criticized the legislation for endangering the privacy of Epstein's victims, stating that it would harm innocent individuals involved in the case. Despite Higgins' principled stance, the bill passed 427-1 and is expected to be signed by President Trump, though Higgins suggested he could support a revised version if amendments were made.

Nearly every Republican in the US House of Representatives voted on a bill to compel the release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The lone 'nay' vote came from Republican lawmaker Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who defied his party asserting that his opposition was a principled stance. Higgins criticized the legislation on social media, stating, 'What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America.'

The House's overwhelming approval of the Epstein bill—427-1—highlights a rare moment of bipartisanship in Congress. The Senate also later approved the legislation, paving the way for the president's signature.

For Higgins, protecting the identities of Epstein's victims was his primary concern. He highlighted the risks posed by the bill, stating, '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.'

Higgins indicated he would support the bill if it were amended by the Senate. However, with the favorable vote in the House and President Trump signaling his support, amendments seemed improbable.

Higgins, known for his conservative views, has a history of taking dissenting positions. In 2024, he faced backlash for derogatory remarks about Haiti and victims of crime. His previous controversial statements on social media led to censure from House Republicans.

Before his political career, Higgins served in law enforcement and became a controversial figure due to a previous anti-crime video that surfaced online.