Clay Higgins Stands Alone Against Epstein Files Release in House Vote

Washington, D.C.: In a remarkable turn during a near-unanimous House vote on legislation to release case files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana stood alone in opposition. The bill, aimed at increasing transparency and shedding light on Epstein’s network, passed with overwhelming support, leaving Higgins as the only voice opposing it.

Higgins, now serving his fifth term representing southwest Louisiana, explained in a detailed statement that his “principled NO” stems from concerns about the bill’s potential to harm innocent individuals. He argued that the legislation, as written, would indiscriminately expose thousands of witnesses, alibi providers, and family members to public scrutiny.

“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. While House Speaker Mike Johnson, also a Republican from Louisiana, shared some of Higgins’ objections, he voted in favor, citing the need to support maximum transparency. Higgins, however, refused to yield to pressure from both his party and survivors of Epstein’s crimes.

Higgins suggested he might support the bill if the Senate amended it to protect the privacy of those “named but not criminally implicated,” but the Senate passed it via unanimous consent hours later, cementing Higgins’ solitary opposition.

Controversial Past and Strong Opinions
Higgins, a former law enforcement officer, is no stranger to controversy. He gained notoriety for creating brash Crime Stoppers videos, earning the nickname “Cajun John Wayne,” and has previously faced allegations of misconduct. His outspoken nature extends to social media, where a 2020 post promising force against armed protesters was removed for violating platform policies.

Despite his contentious public persona, Higgins chairs the subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee that issued subpoenas in the Epstein case. He has also pushed for subpoenas of high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton, in the ongoing investigation.

Higgins’ stance reflects a broader debate in Congress over transparency versus protecting the privacy and safety of those tangentially involved in criminal investigations. His principled dissent underscores the tension between public demand for accountability in the Epstein case and the potential collateral damage to uninvolved parties.

The vote has reignited discussions on how lawmakers balance the public’s right to information against the rights and safety of private citizens, highlighting the complexities surrounding one of the most infamous criminal cases in recent U.S. history.