Who Is Rep. Clay Higgins — The Lone House Vote Against Releasing Epstein Files?

Republicans and Democrats in the House expected a near-unanimous vote to force the public release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case. One lawmaker broke from that consensus: Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who cast the sole dissenting vote in the House.

Quick summary of the vote

The House approved the measure overwhelmingly, 427–1 (including 216 Republicans), and the Senate later passed it unanimously before sending it to the president for signature. Higgins argued that broad public disclosure of investigative files could unintentionally harm innocent people named in documents, a concern echoed by some other lawmakers.

Background: political rise and law-enforcement career

Higgins has represented Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District since 2017. Before entering Congress he worked in law enforcement and gained national attention for hardline, theatrical Crime Stoppers videos that went viral online and helped launch his political profile. During his law-enforcement career he faced several misconduct complaints and resigned from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2016 amid public backlash over one of those videos.

Controversies and public statements

Higgins is known as one of the most conservative and outspoken members of the House and is a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. His public statements have repeatedly generated controversy. Examples include:

• In 2020, he posted on Facebook a message warning of the potential use of force against armed demonstrators alongside a photo of Black protesters carrying long guns; the post was later removed by Facebook.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic he publicly questioned aspects of the official narrative and suggested the Chinese Communist Party had created or weaponized the virus—an assertion lacking credible evidence.
• After January 6, 2021, he promoted an unproven theory about "ghost buses" allegedly carrying undercover agents or provocateurs to the Capitol; investigators have not found evidence to support that claim.
• In 2024 he drew criticism for offensive remarks about Haitian immigrants, including repeating an unsubstantiated claim about Haitians eating pets; he later deleted the post and said he was referring to gang members rather than all Haitians.

Why he voted "No"

Although Higgins previously supported the House committee’s probe into Epstein and served as a lead investigator, he explained his opposition to the public-release bill in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He said the bill, as written, risked exposing people who are not criminally implicated and could "reveal and injure thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc."

“I have been a principled 'NO' on this bill from the beginning. What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America.”

Supporters of the measure argued that redactions and procedural safeguards were included to protect victims, witnesses and others named in the files. The Oversight Committee had already released tens of thousands of pages from the Epstein case while asserting it would protect sensitive information.

After the vote

As the roll call closed, Higgins appeared to lift his phone and photograph the House voting board displaying his lone dissent. He continues to be a polarizing figure in Congress: popular with a segment of conservative voters for his tough rhetoric, but frequently criticized by opponents for incendiary statements and unproven claims.

Personal details

Born in New Orleans, Higgins is the seventh of eight children and moved with his family to Covington, Louisiana, at age six. He has been married four times and lives in Port Barre, Louisiana, with his fourth wife, Becca. He has described long workdays in Washington, at times sleeping on an air mattress in his office during the early years of his congressional service.