Here’s the Name of Every Republican Who Voted to Kill Epstein Bill
In an 8–4 party-line vote Tuesday, Republicans on the House Rules Committee shot down a bid to put the Epstein Files Transparency Act—which would compel the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein—to a floor vote.
The motion was introduced by Democratic Ranking Member Jim McGovern, who prior to the vote stressed the importance of transparency in the case of the notorious late pedophile.
“I can see why the administration might want to hide [the Epstein files] if the creepy birthday note from Trump to Epstein is any indication of what might be in those files,” McGovern said—referencing a 2003 letter, released Monday by the House Oversight Committee, in which Donald Trump appeared to offer Epstein an unsettling 50th birthday message and lewd drawing.
“But if the administration won’t follow through on their promises, Congress should force them to,” McGovern said, adding that the Epstein files legislation “does exactly that, while protecting the victims and the survivors.”
The ranking member’s ultimately unsuccessful effort comes as Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California and Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky continue a broader campaign to force a vote on their bill. Their petition remains, as of this writing, two signatures short of the 218 required to do so. All 212 House Democrats are on board, but just four Republicans.
McGovern urged his GOP colleagues to “see the light and sign Mr. Massie’s discharge petition.” Last week, survivors of Epstein’s abuse also held a press conference in front of the Capitol demanding Congress pass the bipartisan bill.
Nonetheless, all Republican Rules Committee members present voted against it. The only ‘Yes’ votes came from McGovern and his three fellow Democratic committee members.
Here is the name of every Republican who voted to block the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Tuesday.
- Virginia Foxx — North Carolina
- Michelle Fischbach — Minnesota
- Ralph Norman — South Carolina
- Chip Roy — Texas
- Nicholas Langworthy — New York
- Austin Scott — Georgia
- H. Morgan Griffith — Virginia
- Brian Jack — Georgia
