House overwhelmingly clears release of explosive Epstein files

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act as dozens of the deceased pedophile financier's victims looked on, triggering the potential release of tens of thousands of documents that relate to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking operation. 

Once vigorously opposed to its release and dubbing it a 'Democrat hoax', President Trump startlingly changed his mind over the weekend after seeing the writing on the wall: many in his party were set to defy him on the vote regardless.

Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the lone 'no' vote on the bill, justifying his decision with the belief that, as written, it 'reveals and injures thousands of innocent people.'

The legislation - delayed for months due to the government shutdown - now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune now faces a decision of when to bring up the vote that would send the bill to Trump for his signature.

Thune could stall bringing the disclosure bill to the floor, partially aided by a shorter week in the Senate ahead of next week's Thanksgiving recess, but pressure to act will be enormous. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer promised to stop Thune if he 'tries to bury the bill' because the 'American people have waited long enough and they want to see what’s in it.'

Arkansas Republican John Boozman told reporters Tuesday that Trump's newfound backing for the bill will 'make a difference' in how the Senate handles the legislation, also adding that he doesn't 'have any problems with data coming out,' and that 'lots of people ran on this issue in the last election.

The Department of Justice may also be able to stem the release of some files by claiming that they would jeopardize an ongoing investigation that Trump recently requested.

Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi heeded Trump's request to investigate Epstein's relationships with prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton. 

That could complicate what actually gets released and pour more fire on conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein case.

Speaker Mike Johnson voted to release the files, but is asking the Senate to amend the bill if it is taken up there, allowing Bondi to redact certain documents to protect victims, sources, and methods.

Thomas Massie has called the potential Senate amendments under the guise of protecting victims a 'red herring.'

Survivors of Epstein's abuses gathered in front of the US Capitol on Tuesday alongside Democrat Representative Ro Khanna, as well as Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Massie, who have faced Trump's ire for their relentless campaign for transparency.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the press conference, Massie noted that his chance of success in using the legislative technique of the discharge petition 'was about 4 percent in the beginning,' and that he is 'used to fighting battles and not winning.' 

The discharge petition process allows a bill to be brought before the full Congress, bypassing the typical committee process.

Massie notably told the Senate not to 'muck it up' while also adding during the press conference that Trump 'can release these files without the Senate acting.'

The path to garnering 218 votes on the discharge petition was a rocky one.

Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson last Wednesday afternoon, seven weeks after being elected to replace the seat previously held by her now deceased father.

Grijalva became the final signature on a petition to release government files related to Jeffrey Epstein as a few of his victims looked on from the House gallery, delivering on a key campaign promise minutes after she was sworn in as a member of Congress. 

The petition, put forth by Khanna and Kentucky Massie, was backed by every Democrat in the House, as well as three female Republicans, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. 

But, Trump said Sunday evening that the files should be released, giving other Republicans political cover that their vote would not be a contrast to his wishes.

Trump himself tried his best to whip Republicans, namely Boebert and Mace, on Wednesday to remove their names from the petition.

Trump was known to have associated with Epstein in the early 2000s and has been spotted in photos and videos with both Epstein and Maxwell. He also allegedly wrote a birthday card to Epstein, which featured a depiction of a nude woman.

The birthday letter was reportedly part of a private album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein's 50th birthday, in which she asked friends to contribute photos, drawings, and personal notes.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released on Wednesday emails subpoenaed from the Jeffrey Epstein estate, which include mentions of President Trump by name.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the House Oversight committee called the release by their Democrat colleagues 'cherry-picked' to generate clickbait.