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' came from the Republican lawmaker from Louisiana, Clay Higgins, who defied his party saying his vote was a principled 'NO'. 'What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today,' Higgins wrote on X. 'It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America.' The resounding vote in favour of the Epstein bill, 427-1, marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Hours later, the US Senate approved the legislation, clearing the way for the final act - President Donald Trump's signature.
For Higgins, safeguarding the personal information of Epstein's many victims was the primary issue with the legislation. 'As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc,' he wrote on X. '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 stated he would support the bill if amended by the Senate, which Republican majority leader John Thune suggested was unlikely. Prior to the House passing the legislation, only four Republicans joined all Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote. It achieved overwhelming Republican support after President Trump dropped his opposition to a vote. Higgins has represented Louisiana's third district since 2017 and is one of Congress's most conservative members. His dissent amidst a sea of support is not the first time he's taken an unorthodox stance in Congress.
For Higgins, safeguarding the personal information of Epstein's many victims was the primary issue with the legislation. 'As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc,' he wrote on X. '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 stated he would support the bill if amended by the Senate, which Republican majority leader John Thune suggested was unlikely. Prior to the House passing the legislation, only four Republicans joined all Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote. It achieved overwhelming Republican support after President Trump dropped his opposition to a vote. Higgins has represented Louisiana's third district since 2017 and is one of Congress's most conservative members. His dissent amidst a sea of support is not the first time he's taken an unorthodox stance in Congress.
