Editorials & Other Articles

Dulcinea

(9,500 posts) Tue Nov 18, 2025, 02:51 PM Nov 18

House votes overwhelmingly to pass bill to force release of Epstein files

(AP) The House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill Tuesday to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.

When a small bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a petition in July to maneuver around House Speaker Mike Johnson’s control of which bills reach the House floor, it appeared a longshot effort — especially as Trump urged his supporters to dismiss the matter as a “hoax.”

But both Trump and Johnson failed in their efforts to prevent the vote. Now the president has bowed to the growing momentum behind the bill and even said he will sign it if it also passes the Senate.

Tuesday’s vote further showed the pressure mounting on lawmakers and the Trump administration to meet long-held demands that the Justice Department release its case files on Epstein, a well-connected financier who killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.

https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-11-18-2025#0000019a-9876-d96a-a99b-daf7b1170000

9 replies

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House votes overwhelmingly to pass bill to force release of Epstein files (Original Post) Dulcinea Nov 18 OP

What was the final tally? Traildogbob Nov 18 #1

only 1 vote against - Clay Higgins from Louisiana Wiz Imp Nov 18 #3

Thank you a bunch. Traildogbob Nov 18 #4

It appears that there were 5 non voters Wiz Imp Nov 18 #5

Thank you for the info Traildogbob Nov 18 #7

The 5 people who didn't vote: Wiz Imp Nov 18 #8

Great heads up 🤜🏼🤛🏼 Traildogbob Nov 18 #9

I'm totally confused by what's going on jmbar2 Nov 18 #2

YES! no_hypocrisy Nov 18 #6

Traildogbob

(12,238 posts)

1. What was the final tally?

Reply to Dulcinea (Original post)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 02:51 PM

Nov 18

Wiz Imp

(8,365 posts)

3. only 1 vote against - Clay Higgins from Louisiana

Reply to Traildogbob (Reply #1)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 02:59 PM

Nov 18

There were a couple of non-votes - not sure of the exact number.

Make no mistake, almost all of the Republicans (the 4 who signed the discharge petition excepted) were cowards and hypocrites. They did not vote the way they believed. If they believed in the bill, there would have been no need for the discharge petition - it could have been brought to the floor for a vote at any time.

Since they knew it was going to pass, the were terrified of voting to protect pedophiles even though that's what they want to do. Hell, all the Republicans who spoke during the "debate" portion trashed the bill. So they vote YES on a bill they just trashed and we're supposed to believe they're being honest? They will continue to do everything they can to protect Trump and try to make sure the files don't get released.

Traildogbob

(12,238 posts)

4. Thank you a bunch.

Reply to Wiz Imp (Reply #3)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 03:02 PM

Nov 18

The none voters are as guilty as Higgins.
PrePubicLickincons.

Wiz Imp

(8,365 posts)

5. It appears that there were 5 non voters

Reply to Traildogbob (Reply #4)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 03:08 PM

Nov 18

3 of them were Democrats so I can only assume they were not present to be able to vote. I haven't been able to find the names yet.

Traildogbob

(12,238 posts)

7. Thank you for the info

Reply to Wiz Imp (Reply #5)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 03:46 PM

Nov 18

Many cheers to ya

Wiz Imp

(8,365 posts)

8. The 5 people who didn't vote:

Reply to Traildogbob (Reply #7)

Tue Nov 18, 2025, 04:17 PM

Nov 18

Beyer, Donald (D) Virginia
Casar, Greg (D) Texas
Rulli, Michael (R) Ohio
Sherrill, Mikie (D) New Jersey
Womack, Steve (R) Arkansas

I'm sure Mikie Sherrill was back in New Jersey working with her transition team preparing to take over as Governor.

I don't know about the others, but I assume the 2 Democrats were also absent for some good reason. Casar has one of the most progressive voting records in Congress and Beyer's voting record is very solid as well. Casar is Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Beyer is also a member of that Caucus.