The House Rules Committee moved forward with a resolution late Thursday night, urging the Department of Justice to disclose information connected to Jeffrey Epstein. This comes as several Republicans express frustration over how the Trump administration has handled Epstein-related narratives.
The committee voted 9-4 along party lines, with all Democrats opposing the resolution.
It’s unclear when House leadership plans to take a vote on this measure. According to House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Fox (R-N.C.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) will communicate the timing.
The resolution aims to ensure the release of specific documents, records, and communications tied to Epstein’s investigation.
The Attorney General is being requested to make public “all reliable” documents and communications related to Epstein’s case and his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
It’s important to note that this resolution is not a bill, which means it won’t go to the Senate and lacks the legal power to compel the Trump administration to act.
When questioned about the pushback from Democrats, Fox referred to the resolution as a “sounding and well-intentioned” effort. Notably, Democrats recently promoted similar Epstein-related proposals in the form of resolutions as well, rather than bills.
Representative Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a member of the Rules Committee, indicated that if information remains unavailable to the public, the committee will call on other House committees to look into possible interference or delays in releasing the documents.
Ranking member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) criticized the resolution, labeling it as a “cover vote” and pointing out that committee members had previously rejected a Democratic amendment aimed at releasing more Epstein-related documents.
McGovern had also introduced amendments to strengthen a bill proposed by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) seeking documents from the DOJ, but those were promptly rejected by Republicans.
If it reaches the floor, this measure will likely invoke a controversial procedural rule, and a final vote would simply “describe” the action taken.
As the committee deliberated on this resolution, President Trump had been vocal for over a week, describing the Epstein issue as a “hoax” and expressing discontent with the DOJ’s refusal to release more information on sex offenders.
This latest vote is part of the ongoing saga surrounding Epstein that has permeated Capitol Hill and created divisions within the Republican Party. The GOP seems focused on a push driven by MAGA supporters, encouraging the release of documents to put an end to the ongoing discussion.
This all unfolds amid mounting pressure as Republicans grapple with other pressing issues, including a package aimed at reducing federal funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting. On Thursday, Republicans on the House Rules Committee, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), debated for nearly two hours about the future direction concerning these complicated matters related to Epstein.
On Monday, Democrats called for a vote within the full chamber regarding an amendment designed to require the release of Epstein’s files, but the effort failed with a 4-8 tally. Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) chose not to vote on that measure.
Republicans who opposed that initiative faced considerable backlash, which contributed to the urgency of their vote on Thursday night.
On Tuesday, Democrats again tried to force a vote to make the Epstein documents public. They encouraged the chamber to resist standard proceedings that could lead to a vote on the release of those files, but Republicans united to defeat that attempt.
