There was one “no” vote in Congress on whether to release the Epstein files. Combined.
The House measure ordering the US Justice Department to release its files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein passed 427-1 with all Kansas lawmakers, including Second District Congressman Derek Schmidt, voting in favor. House Resolution 4405, also known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed unanimously in the Senate with no adjustments, over the requests of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Unlike several issues recently, most connected to the recently-ended government shutdown, Kansas lawmakers have not issued any statements on the Epstein bill to this point.
President Donald Trump has said he will sign the bill, although he has had authority to release the files without Congressional action and had been resisting the release until this past weekend. If signed, the Department of Justice has 30 days to release the documents, although Attorney General Pam Bondi may withhold outright or redact information that would jeopardize active investigations or identify victims..
Trump’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a financier more known for organizing sex parties and other sexual activities with underage girls before he died by suicide in 2019, have been hotly debated for years. Last week, the House Oversight Committee approved the release of over 20,000 emails, texts and other documents, many of which name Trump — well after Trump said his association with Epstein ended.
