Today's News: House Passes Legislation to Force Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files

The bipartisan measure, championed by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, succeeded despite initial resistance from President Donald Trump and House Republican leadership

Terrence Dorsey

Nov 18, 2025

Photo: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

Date: November 18, 2025
Summary: The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to compel the Department of Justice to release all investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bipartisan measure, championed by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, succeeded despite initial resistance from President Donald Trump and House Republican leadership, who later reversed their positions. The bill, which passed 427-1, now moves to the Senate, where leaders anticipate quick passage and the President has pledged to sign it. The effort was driven by a discharge petition and strong advocacy from Epstein survivors, who seek full transparency and accountability.

Sources

Key Points

The House of Representatives passed legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support (427-1) to mandate the release of all Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The bill was spearheaded by Representatives Thomas Massie (Republican) and Ro Khanna (Democrat) through a discharge petition, which circumvented House leadership’s initial opposition.
President Donald Trump, who initially opposed the effort, reversed his stance shortly before the vote and urged Republicans to support the bill, pledging to sign it if it reaches his desk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders, despite prior objections, ultimately voted for the measure, with Johnson expressing hopes for Senate amendments to enhance victim privacy protections.
The lone “no” vote came from Representative Clay Higgins (Republican), citing concerns about the bill’s potential to reveal information about innocent individuals.
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer indicated a desire for quick passage without amendments, acknowledging the strong House vote and presidential support.
Epstein survivors were present during the House vote, expressing emotional support for the bill and calling for full transparency.

Unique Highlights

CNN reported that President Trump had previously called the issue a “Democratic hoax” and had personally attacked Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her a “traitor” for pushing the release. It also noted that Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously fueled speculation about an “Epstein list.”
NBC News detailed the specific requirements of the bill, including that records must be released in a searchable and downloadable format within 30 days, and cover Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs, travel records, and internal Justice Department communications. It also quoted Epstein survivor Jena-Lisa Jones directly criticizing President Trump for politicizing the issue and White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson’s counter-argument.
The Washington Post highlighted that President Trump has the authority to direct the Justice Department to release documents without congressional action, as he has done with other historical investigations, and quoted Representative Jamie Raskin (Democrat) questioning why he hadn’t. It also mentioned the release of the “birthday book” by Epstein’s estate as part of a separate House Oversight Committee probe.
The Wall Street Journal included quotes from Epstein survivor Haley Robson addressing lawmakers directly, stating, “Your career is in front of you, and that choice will follow you.” It also mentioned Senate Majority Leader John Thune was “hotlining” the bill to survey senators for objections to a quick vote.
Fox News provided Representative Clay Higgins’ specific explanation on X for his “no” vote, stating he would support an amended bill that properly addresses privacy of victims and other named but not criminally implicated Americans. It also noted Speaker Johnson’s specific concern that the bill could deter future whistleblowers and reveal undercover law enforcement officers.
The New York Times emphasized that the vote reflected how the Epstein affair and President Trump’s handling of it had “fractured Mr. Trump’s political coalition and suggested a slip in his iron grip on his party.” It also quoted Representative Thomas Massie saying Speaker Johnson was “dragged to it kicking and screaming” and provided Representative Troy Nehls’ unapologetic explanation for his about-face, stating he was simply doing what President Trump had said: “just release the damn files.”

Contrasting Details

Privacy Protections: While the bill’s proponents, including Representative Thomas Massie, argued the legislation has sufficient protections for victims, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Representative Clay Higgins (the lone “no” vote) expressed significant concerns. Johnson, as reported by CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, argued the bill did not do enough to protect victims’ privacy and could deter future whistleblowers or reveal law enforcement identities. Higgins, in NBC News, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, stated the bill as written could reveal and injure “thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc.”
Senate Amendments: Speaker Johnson, according to CNN and The Washington Post, expressed hope that the Senate would amend the bill to include additional privacy protections. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, as reported by CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, suggested the Senate was unlikely to amend a bill that passed the House 427-1 and had presidential support. Senator Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, in The Washington Post and Fox News, indicated he would seek immediate passage by unanimous consent and warned against any attempts to “bury” or selectively release files.
President Trump’s Stance: Multiple articles, including CNN, NBC News, and The Washington Post, highlighted President Trump’s reversal from initially calling the issue a “Democratic hoax” and resisting the effort to urging Republicans to support it. The Wall Street Journal noted he continued to call it a “hoax” even as he supported its passage. The New York Times further illustrated the internal Republican conflict, describing Representative Troy Nehls’ unapologetic shift, openly admitting he was following President Trump’s directive despite his prior “hoax” stance.

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