Republican Congressman Clay Higgins emerged as the sole dissenting voice in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, casting the only vote against legislation requiring the public release of federal investigative files connected to Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which had overwhelming bipartisan support and was expected to pass unanimously, moved through the chamber with near-total agreement—except for Higgins, who maintained that he had opposed the measure from the outset. According to the Associated Press, he reiterated that his vote was guided by principle rather than political calculation.
Higgins, who represents southwest Louisiana and is now serving his fifth term, issued a detailed statement outlining his concerns. While some of his objections echoed those initially raised by House Speaker Mike Johnson—another Louisiana Republican—Higgins refused to shift his position even as Johnson eventually voted in favour of the bill under the banner of “maximum transparency.” Higgins instead insisted that full disclosure of the files could cause serious collateral damage to countless individuals who appear anywhere in the documents, including witnesses, relatives, and people who provided alibis.
In his statement, Higgins argued that releasing raw investigative materials to what he described as a “rabid media” posed grave risks. He warned that innocent people, who were never accused of wrongdoing, could have their reputations destroyed simply by being mentioned in the files. For this reason, he said, he might reconsider his position only if the Senate added explicit protections to shield individuals who are named but not implicated in criminal activity. When the Senate took up the bill later that day, however, it approved the measure unanimously and without amendments—cementing Higgins’ status as the lone member of Congress to vote against it.
Higgins’s isolated stance surprised few who are familiar with his political style. Before entering politics, he gained national attention as a sheriff’s deputy through highly theatrical Crime Stoppers videos, which earned him the nickname “Cajun John Wayne.” Throughout his political career, Higgins has frequently embraced controversy, including challenging online critics to physical confrontations and issuing inflammatory warnings to armed demonstrators—posts later removed by Facebook for violating policies on violent content.
In Congress, Higgins chairs a House Oversight subcommittee that sought to subpoena the Department of Justice for Epstein-related records. Even during those efforts, he stood apart from colleagues by resisting attempts to broaden the subpoena, while also encouraging the committee to summon former President Bill Clinton for testimony. He described the subpoena process as uniquely intriguing, calling it “fascinating stuff” during one of the hearings.
Following the House vote, the Senate advanced the Epstein Files Transparency Act with unanimous approval, pushing the federal government closer to releasing long-sought records tied to Epstein’s crimes. The legislation now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump, who is expected to formally enact the measure into law.
