Nearly every Republican in the US House of Representatives voted on a bill to compel the release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lone 'nay' vote came from the Republican lawmaker from Louisiana, Clay Higgins, who defied his party saying his vote was a principled 'NO'.
What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today, Higgins wrote on X. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America. The resounding vote in favour of the Epstein bill, 427-1, marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Hours later, the US Senate also approved the legislation, clearing the way for the final act - President Donald Trump's signature.
For Higgins, safeguarding the personal information of Epstein's many victims was the primary issue with the legislation. As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc, he wrote on X. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt.
Higgins stated he would support the bill if it were amended by the Senate, which Republican majority leader John Thune had already suggested was unlikely. He emphasized that when a bill comes out of the House 427 to 1 and the president said he's going to sign it, amending it would be a hard sell.
Prior to the House passing the legislation, only four Republicans had joined all Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote - Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The bill gained overwhelming Republican support after President Trump dropped his opposition to a vote.
Despite his politically conservative stance, Higgins’ dissenting vote follows a history of controversial statements and actions that have put him at odds with both Democrats and members of his own party. He has been known to make headlines for his outspoken views, previously facing censure for derogatory remarks about Haiti.
The BBC has contacted Higgins's office for comment.
What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today, Higgins wrote on X. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America. The resounding vote in favour of the Epstein bill, 427-1, marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Hours later, the US Senate also approved the legislation, clearing the way for the final act - President Donald Trump's signature.
For Higgins, safeguarding the personal information of Epstein's many victims was the primary issue with the legislation. As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc, he wrote on X. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt.
Higgins stated he would support the bill if it were amended by the Senate, which Republican majority leader John Thune had already suggested was unlikely. He emphasized that when a bill comes out of the House 427 to 1 and the president said he's going to sign it, amending it would be a hard sell.
Prior to the House passing the legislation, only four Republicans had joined all Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote - Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Marjorie Taylor Greene. The bill gained overwhelming Republican support after President Trump dropped his opposition to a vote.
Despite his politically conservative stance, Higgins’ dissenting vote follows a history of controversial statements and actions that have put him at odds with both Democrats and members of his own party. He has been known to make headlines for his outspoken views, previously facing censure for derogatory remarks about Haiti.
The BBC has contacted Higgins's office for comment.
