Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he plans to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files when the bill reaches the House floor next week.
Bacon, who recently announced his retirement from Congress, was among the first Republicans to confirm he would side with Democrats on the issue. Since his statement, officials from both parties have suggested that dozens — possibly more than 100 GOP representatives — could join in supporting the measure.
However, Bacon cautioned the public not to expect “damning or explosive revelations” from the documents. He noted that even if the bill clears the House, it could still stall in the Senate or face a veto from the president.
Bacon said he trusts the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has already uncovered and released a new batch of emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender with past ties to former President Donald Trump. The release of those emails renewed public pressure for full disclosure of the files.
Bacon reaffirmed his support for transparency, while emphasizing that the identities of victims should remain protected. He has faced some criticism for not signing a discharge petition — a rare legislative tool used to force a floor vote — which ultimately advanced the bill after newly sworn-in Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva added the final signature.
The issue has divided the GOP, as lawmakers weigh party loyalty against public demands for transparency. Reports from Washington suggest the White House has lobbied to slow or block the measure.
Bacon downplayed expectations of political fallout, saying he doubts the files contain major surprises, as “the Biden administration would have already released the worst about Trump, and vice versa.” He did, however, criticize the White House’s handling of the situation, calling it a “public relations disaster” for creating confusion over what would be released.
“I’m for transparency,” Bacon said. “Everything should be out — except for the victims’ names.”
He added that progress is already being made without the petition, pointing to newly uncovered documents, including a birthday note from Trump to Epstein and roughly 20,000 pages of emails obtained by House Oversight Democrats.
Nebraska’s other congressional representatives, Mike Flood and Adrian Smith, have not yet stated how they plan to vote on the bill.
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