The House voted 427-1 on Nov. 18 to require the Justice Department to publish unclassified records tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, advancing the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the Senate. The bill covers materials related to Ghislaine Maxwell, flight and travel logs, and names referenced in the probe. President Trump signaled willingness to sign the legislation after initially opposing release, but DOJ may still withhold classified information, victim identities, or items that jeopardize ongoing investigations. The measure bars redactions based solely on embarrassment or political sensitivity.
House Votes 427-1 to Unseal Epstein Files — Bipartisan Push Moves Records Toward Release
The House voted 427-1 on Nov. 18 to require the Justice Department to publish unclassified records tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, advancing the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the Senate. The bill covers materials related to Ghislaine Maxwell, flight and travel logs, and names referenced in the probe. President Trump signaled willingness to sign the legislation after initially opposing release, but DOJ may still withhold classified information, victim identities, or items that jeopardize ongoing investigations. The measure bars redactions based solely on embarrassment or political sensitivity.
05:58 AM, 11/19/2025Politics
House Votes to Unseal Epstein Files; Measure Advances to Senate
On Nov. 18, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 427-1 to demand the public release of Justice Department records related to the investigations and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019. The near-unanimous, bipartisan vote advances the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but the measure still must clear the Senate and be signed by the president before it becomes law.
The bill would require the Department of Justice to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession that relate to Epstein's case. The scope specifically includes materials connected to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, flight and travel logs, and the names of individuals referenced in the probes, including any government officials mentioned in the records.
This request is broader than a separate administrative release of thousands of documents previously provided to the House Oversight Committee. That earlier set included emails from Epstein's estate in which Epstein referenced public figures and made disturbing claims. The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, dismissed those committee disclosures as a partisan 'hoax'.
President Trump initially opposed unsealing the files but reversed course as bipartisan support grew. He posted on Truth Social urging House Republicans to vote to release the records, saying 'we have nothing to hide' and indicating he would sign the bill if it reached his desk.
Even if the bill becomes law, the Justice Department would still be permitted to withhold or redact information in limited circumstances: classified materials, information that would identify victims, or items that could jeopardize ongoing federal investigations. The legislation, however, expressly forbids withholding or redacting records solely because they would cause embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D) with Rep. Thomas Massie (R) as a cosponsor. Several Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Lauren Boebert and Rep. Nancy Mace, helped force the vote. Greene has been among the most vocal advocates for unsealing the records, arguing the move serves transparency and survivors' interests.
What Comes Next
With the House vote complete, the bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the president. If enacted, the Justice Department would be directed to publish qualifying unclassified materials while still protecting classified information, victim identities, and evidence that could compromise ongoing inquiries. The timing and scope of any release will depend on how the administration and DOJ apply the bill's exemptions and redaction limits.
Why it matters: The vote represents a rare bipartisan consensus on a high-profile, politically sensitive issue and could increase public access to details of the Epstein investigation — though some material may remain protected for legal and privacy reasons.