The United States House of Representatives voted to release the Epstein files in near-universal agreement on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
A lone Republican congressman from Louisiana, Rep. Clay Higgins, voted against passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which forces the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all unclassified materials related to the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s case.
All 28 of Florida’s House representatives voted in favor of releasing the Epstein files.
“Today, I will be voting to release the Epstein files. This could have been done during the Biden Administration, but they didn’t want these records out cause it will probably look bad for many of their friends,” Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Florida, wrote in a post on X ahead of the vote on Tuesday.
“So let the record reflect that President Trump once again is the most transparent public official to have ever stepped foot in the Oval Office. I hope this brings closure to the victims and their families — and I hope it brings accountability to any of monsters involved in these grotesque crimes.”
Trump for months has denounced calls for the release of the Epstein files and has dismissed the furor over the Epstein case as a “hoax” pushed by Democrats. He also could have ordered the release of the files without an act of Congress at any time and has not.
Here’s a look at how every Florida representative voted regarding releasing the Epstein files.
Florida Republicans who voted to release the Epstein files
Florida Democrats who voted to release the Epstein files
Did any Florida House members vote no or not vote at all?
Every congressional representative from Florida voted in favor of releasing the Epstein files. Out of the 427 elected representatives across the country, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) was the only one to vote no.
Two Republicans and three Democrats did not vote at all:
When will the Epstein files be released?
So, when will Americans get a chance to peek inside the long-awaited Epstein files? That’s still unclear.
The Senate will also need to hold a vote on the measure, which would need at least 60 votes to reach a filibuster-proof majority.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said that he believes the Senate will move “fairly quickly” after President Donald Trump vowed to sign the bill with the contingency that it passed Congress. Trump has a spotty record when it comes to recognizing Congress’ authority regarding the laws it has passed before.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Here’s how Florida representatives voted on releasing the Epstein files
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
