The only member of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote against releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files was Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Higgins opposed the bipartisan bill on the grounds that releasing the files could potentially harm innocent individuals—such as witnesses, people who provided alibis, and family members—by exposing them in the media even if they were not criminally implicated. Despite overwhelming support from both parties (the vote was 427-1), Higgins stood alone in his opposition, citing concerns with criminal justice protocols and privacy protections.