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▼ Bad look for JohnsonCongress / MembersCriminal Justice

House votes near unanimously to release the Epstein files after Trump's major about-face over pedophile financier's secrets

Johnson had resisted a House vote on the records legislation before it advanced under pressure from the discharge petition.

House votes near unanimously to release the Epstein files after Trump's major about-face over pedophile financier's secrets
Image · The Independent

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Outlet credibilityThe Independent77/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 13, 2026
tl;dr

The House passed a measure requiring the Justice Department to release unclassified Epstein-related records in a 427-1 vote. The measure’s path was shaped by a discharge petition, House leadership’s earlier resistance and President Donald Trump’s recent reversal; Senate passage and the timing of any release remain uncertain.

Community verdict

42 VOTES
How does this story look for
Mike Johnson R · LA-4
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker who had opposed a vote on the legislation and hoped the Senate would change it

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who reversed his position on the House measure and called for a Justice Department investigation

Trump's version of this story ↗
Clay Higgins
R · LA-3

Representative who cast the sole House vote against the legislation

Nancy Mace
R · SC-1

Representative who signed the discharge petition and wanted the files released

Attorney general who opened the investigation Trump called for

Representative who criticized Trump’s and Johnson’s handling of the issue

Thomas Massie
R · KY-4

Representative who joined Ro Khanna in using a discharge petition to force a House vote

Representative who signed the discharge petition

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who described the expected Senate process

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Former U.S. Representative (R-GA)

Representative who signed the discharge petition and called for release of the files

Representative whose signature supplied the discharge petition’s 218th vote

J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice president who had previously called for release of the files

Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Representative who joined Thomas Massie in using a discharge petition to force a House vote

ALSO MENTIONED  Bill Clinton, Former president whom Trump named as an alleged associate of Epstein; Larry Summers, Former Treasury secretary whom Trump named as an alleged associate of Epstein

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