A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside of the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2025.

A House vote is expected on Nov. 18 on legislation to force the Department of Justice to release more files related to convicted sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

It comes less than a week after Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson bowed to mounting pressure to schedule a vote following a bipartisan group of lawmakers' use of an obscure petition to bypass House leadership opposition to bringing the matter to the floor.

The legislation in question, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has sparked turmoil within the president's party, as several GOP lawmakers publicly side with the many Democrats pushing for its passage. Among the most vocal is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose support for releasing Epstein files has contributed to a public feud with President Donald Trump.

Lawmakers behind the legislation had seized on renewed focus over the disgraced financier after Democrats in the House on Nov. 12 released thousands of emails from Epstein. Several bombshell messages discussed Trump, including emails from Epstein that said Trump “spent hours at my house” with a victim and allegedly "knew about the girls."

After months of calling the Epstein investigations a "hoax" and a Democratic "trap," Trump reversed course on Nov. 16 and called on House Republicans to vote for the full release of the files.

But even if it passes the House, the bill must still get through the Senate and be signed by the president to take effect.

Here's what, exactly, lawmakers behind the Act want released.

What is the House voting on concerning the Epstein files?

The Epstein Files Transparency Act would require the Department of Justice to publicly release all the unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein.

Any personal information of alleged victims would be withheld from the department in the release, as would information that could jeopardize active federal investigations. The DOJ would be required to report to Congress justifying the reason for any withheld information and redactions.

What could be subject to release by the Epstein Files Transparency Act?

Under the proposed House bill, Attorney General Pam Bondi would have 30 days from when the Act passes to release all unclassified materials related to the convicted sex offender.

This includes all materials related to investigations, prosecutions or custodial matters involving Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including flight logs and travel records, and individuals named or referenced in the inquiry. The bill notes that the names of government officials are subject to publication.

The Act also demands the DOJ release names of all corporate, nonprofit, academic or governmental entities with known or alleged ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks, and release files related to his 2019 death by suicide while in jail awaiting trial. Any internal DOJ communications concerning decisions to charge, not charge, investigate or decline to investigate Epstein or his associates would also be released under the House Act.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House is expected to vote on Epstein files. What could be released?

Reporting by Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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