After months of anticipation, the Home is finally set to vote Tuesday on a invoice ordering the discharge of the Justice Division’s file on intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose purported ties to each Democrats and Republicans have fueled hypothesis throughout the nation and prompted investigations on Capitol Hill in search of to uncover particulars concerning the billionaire’s community of political and monetary connections.
After President Donald Trump reversed course over the weekend — now urging Home Republicans to “vote to launch the Epstein information” — the invoice seems headed for the Senate regardless of a monthslong marketing campaign by Speaker Mike Johnson to dam its launch.
Johnson has tried to keep away from holding a vote within the decrease chamber on the Epstein matter. In late July, Johnson despatched the Home house a day early for August recess as a result of the Home was paralyzed in a stalemate over the Epstein concern.
The speaker additionally despatched the Home house for greater than 50 days through the longest authorities shutdown in U.S. historical past — delaying the swearing in of Democrat Adelita Grijalva. After the shutdown ended final week, the Arizona Democrat became the 218th signature on the Epstein discharge petition, compelling the speaker to carry a invoice co-sponsored by Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to the ground for a vote this week.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to members of the media following the passage of a funding invoice within the Home of Representatives on Capitol Hill, Nov. 12, 2025.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Johnson on Monday continued to lift issues concerning the laws and mentioned he has spoken to Trump “fairly a bit” about it.
“[Trump’s] statements converse for themselves,” Johnson mentioned leaving the Home ground on Monday. “He has nothing, he has by no means had something to cover. He and I had the identical concern, that we needed to make sure that victims of those heinous crimes had been fully protected against disclosure. Those that don’t need their names to be on the market, and I’m not certain the discharge petition does that and that’s a part of the issue.”
Requested Monday concerning the vote, Trump said he’s “all for it,” and that he would signal it if it reaches his desk.
“We’ll give them every part. Certain. I’d allow them to, let the Senate take a look at it. Let anyone take a look at it,” Trump mentioned of the total Epstein information. “However do not discuss it an excessive amount of, as a result of actually, I do not need to take it away from us.”
ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce experiences that Trump doesn’t want to attend for Congress to behave — he may order the discharge instantly.
The measure — referred to as “The Epstein Information Transparency Act” — would compel Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi to make accessible all “unclassified information, paperwork, communications and investigative supplies” within the Division of Justice’s possession associated to Epstein.
The DOJ and FBI released a joint statement in July that acknowledged a assessment uncovered no proof of any consumer listing saved by Epstein or different proof that will predicate a felony investigation of any uncharged events.
The legislation seeks federal information on Epstein and his convicted confederate Ghislaine Maxwell, in addition to different people, together with authorities officers, named or referenced in reference to Epstein’s “felony actions, civil settlements, immunity, plea agreements or investigatory proceedings.” Victims’ names and different figuring out info can be excluded from disclosure, as would any objects which will depict or include youngster intercourse abuse materials, in response to the textual content of the proposed invoice.
Trump, in a submit on social media on Sunday, confused that the Justice Division has “already turned over tens of 1000’s of pages to the general public” on Epstein.
Trump, who was friendly with Epstein for years, mentioned after Epstein’s arrest in 2019 that they hadn’t spoken in additional than a decade after having a falling out. White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt advised reporters final week that emails related to convicted sex offender Epstein released by House Democrats “show completely nothing, apart from the truth that President Trump did nothing mistaken.”
“The Home Oversight Committee can have no matter they’re legally entitled to. I DON’T CARE!” Trump added.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Pressure One on his approach to his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Seaside, Fla., Nov. 14, 2025.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
The invoice is predicted to cross within the Home with dozens of Republicans doubtlessly voting in favor — shifting the political stress to Senate Majority Chief John Thune to observe swimsuit with a vote within the higher chamber. If it passes within the Senate, it can go to Trump’s desk for him to signal it into regulation.
For months, Johnson has pointed on the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry — claiming that the panel’s probe is extra far-reaching than the Khanna-Massie invoice. Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has sought extra paperwork from the Epstein property and testimony from Epstein’s associates, together with former President Invoice Clinton.
Proponents of the invoice argue that “the file of this vote will last more than Donald Trump’s presidency.”
This photograph supplied by the New York State Intercourse Offender Registry exhibits Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017.
New York State Intercourse Offender Registry
“I’d remind my Republican colleagues who’re deciding methods to vote, Donald Trump can defend you in purple districts proper now by supplying you with an endorsement. However in 2030, he isn’t going to be the president, and you should have voted to guard pedophiles when you do not vote to launch these information,” Massie told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “And the president cannot defend you then.”
Even when the measure passes by the Home and Senate and is in the end signed into regulation by Trump, it is unlikely the Justice Division would launch the complete Epstein file, in response to sources. Any supplies associated to ongoing investigations or White Home claims of govt privilege will seemingly stay out of public view.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on expenses of trafficking younger women and girls.
Maxwell is at present serving a 20-year jail sentence. She was convicted on 5 counts of aiding Epstein in his abuse of underage women in December 2021.
