Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick managed to be on both sides of an issue yet again when he joined 426 of his House colleagues Tuesday to vote for the The Epstein Files Transparency Act. The lone no vote (427-1) came from Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins.
Previously Fitzpatrick, like all other Republicans House members except four, refused to sign a discharge petition last week to allow a vote on this Act which forces the Department of Justice to release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This was when Trump opposed releasing the files. It only passed because three Republicans joined the bill’s GOP co-sponsor Thomas Massie of Kentucky in moving the bill forward. They were Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
But Trump then reversed course on Sunday after a vote was imminent announcing on Truth Social that Republicans should now release the files after calling the issue a “Democratic hoax.” With this newfound permission, Fitzpatrick finally voted for the release. A request for comment ahead of the vote to Fitzpatrick’s office was unsuccessful.
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Democrat Bob Harvie, who is running against Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, said last week he was “disgusted” by Fitzpatrick’s refusal to break with the party, posting on social media that the Bucks County Republican “is more concerned about what Donald Trump wants than fighting for the Epstein survivors.” Nevertheless, he celebrated today’s vote.
“Today’s vote to release the Epstein files is a long-overdue step toward truth and accountability. For many survivors, justice has been delayed for years—sometimes decades. They deserve full transparency, and they deserve a system that finally puts their safety, dignity, and voices first,” said Harvie. “I stand with the survivors who have waited far too long for this moment.”
Should the newly passed legislation also be approved by the Senate, Attorney General Pam Bondi will be required to “release unclassified documents, records, communications and investigative materials” to the public in “a searchable and downloadable format.”
Since July, the DNC has demanded Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA 01) and other Pennsylvanian representatives to vote for releasing the files. Fitzpatrick had faced mounting pressure in Bucks County to vote to release them.
NBC Philadelphia reported an electronic billboard sponsored by World Without Exploitation, went live on I-95 in Bensalem on Monday to put pressure on Fitzpatrick.
“We’re calling on our members of Congress to please show the leadership, humanity and courage the American people deserve,” said Lauren Hersh, National Director of World Without Exploitation.
It seems like Trump, not political courage, is what compelled Republicans like Fitzpatrick to vote for the release.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has delayed a vote on the files by sending lawmakers home for an early summer recess.
Angry calls have swelled for the files release – from the public, victims, Democrats and some corners of the GOP, including stalwart Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Editor Cyril Mychalejko contributed to this report.
