Clay Higgins was the only Republican to vote against the Epstein files release. Here’s what he said

Rep. Clay Higgins speaks to reporters about the Epstein files during a recess in a congressional hearing in July. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/File

GOP Rep. Clay Higgins, the only lawmaker to vote against the bipartisan bill to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, defended his opposition on Tuesday, saying the legislation was written in such a way that it might harm innocent people.

“It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America. As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc,” he wrote on X after casting his vote against the bill.

While other Republicans had voiced similar concerns about the measure – including House Speaker Mike Johnson – Higgins’ decision to formally vot