Nearly every Republican in the US House of Representatives voted on a bill to compel the release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The lone nay came from the Republican lawmaker from Louisiana, Clay Higgins, who defied his party saying his vote was a principled NO.
What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today, Higgins wrote on X. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America.
The resounding vote in favour of the Epstein bill, 427-1, marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill. Hours later, the US Senate also approved the legislation, clearing the way for the final act - President Donald Trump's signature.
For Higgins, safeguarding the personal information of Epstein's many victims was the primary issue with the legislation.
As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc, he wrote on X. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt.
Higgins stated he would support the bill if it were to be amended by the Senate, a change deemed unlikely by many, including Republican majority leader John Thune.
Prior to the House passing the legislation, only four Republicans had joined all Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote, but the overwhelming Republican support came after President Trump dropped his opposition to the vote.
Higgins has represented Louisiana's third district since 2017 and is known as one of the most conservative members of Congress, making his dissent an unusual stance amidst strong party alignment.
His past controversies, including remarks that led to a censure by House Republicans and other incendiary comments, paint a picture of a lawmaker who is not afraid to voice dissent from the party line.
The BBC has contacted Higgins's office for comment.
