US House set to vote on the Epstein files release
The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill mandating federal authorities to disclose all government records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who passed away in jail in 2019. The proposal, known as The Epstein Files Transparency Act, mandates the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified documents, emails, communications, and investigative records associated with Epstein. According to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the vote is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18. While the official schedule remains unannounced by the House Majority Leader’s office, Johnson has confirmed that the vote is set to occur in the afternoon. The decision to proceed was made shortly after President Donald Trump publicly called on House Republicans to support the release of the Epstein files. Trump has encountered renewed examination regarding his purported connection to Epstein, a matter he has characterized as a “hoax”. The pressure mounted following the release of emails by the House Oversight Committee that mentioned Trump, leading to demands for increased transparency.
Trump stated on Truth Social, “It’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown’.” A Trump ally, John, countered claims that Trump is concerned about the files. “He’s never had anything to hide,” he stated, emphasizing that both he and Trump are committed to ensuring that victims are safeguarded from wrongful disclosure. The House typically commences voting at approximately 5 pm, with results anticipated by 7 pm. With both Democrats and Republicans indicating their backing, particularly following Trump’s involvement, the vote is anticipated to proceed swiftly. If the bill is approved by the House, it must subsequently proceed to the Senate. Following Senate approval, the measure will necessitate Trump’s signature to be enacted into law. The Epstein Files Transparency Act proposes a series of measures aimed at enhancing public access to information related to the Epstein case.
The bill mandates that the DOJ must disclose:
- all unclassified records
- all communications
- all investigative materials pertaining to Epstein’s prosecution and investigation.
Trump insists on complete transparency. In a notable change from previous remarks, Trump called on House Republicans to support the bill, stating on Truth Social that the party has “nothing to hide”. He wrote, “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files…” The Department of Justice has already provided tens of thousands of pages to the public regarding ‘Epstein,’ and they are examining the connections of various Democrat operatives (Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, Larry Summers, etc.) to Epstein… I don’t care! He emphasized the importance of Republicans concentrating on economic and political priorities, asserting, “All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT…” Trump asserted that if Democrats possessed any damaging information, they would have revealed it prior to the election victories of Republicans last year. He cautioned GOP members against succumbing to what he referred to as a “Epstein ‘TRAP.’”
In 2006, Jeffrey Epstein faced his first allegations. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to two felony charges, resulting in a sentence that sparked considerable controversy and criticism. Despite Trump’s denial of any misconduct, previous reports have highlighted that he and Epstein frequented similar social circles in Florida and New York, attending the same events throughout the years.
