The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly—427 to 1—to urge the Justice Department to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The bipartisan bill now moves to the Senate, and if it passes, President Donald Trump would have to sign it into law. The vote comes amid renewed scrutiny, as Epstein’s emails referenced Trump multiple times, including claims that he “knew about the girls,” though the president has dismissed the issue for weeks as a political distraction.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in his New York jail cell six years ago, has resurfaced as a major political topic during Trump’s second term. Despite calling the focus on the files a “Democrat-driven distraction,” Trump publicly encouraged House Republicans to support their release, saying, “we have nothing to hide.” His shifting stance drew attention as leaked emails reignited questions about his past association with Epstein.

Following the leak, Trump took to social media to accuse Democrats of using the Epstein case as a diversion from criticism over the government shutdown and other issues. He warned Republicans not to “fall into that trap,” claiming Democrats had “cost the country $1.5 trillion dollars” with their actions. He insisted that lawmakers should ignore Epstein-related controversies and concentrate on reopening the government and repairing perceived damage.

As the bill advances, public interest in the still-sealed Epstein documents has intensified. Supporters of the release argue that transparency is necessary for accountability, while critics see the timing as politically charged. Regardless of motive, the House’s near-unanimous vote signals a rare moment of bipartisan agreement—and sets the stage for a high-profile decision in the Senate and, ultimately, by the president.