Fact check: What are the names of politicians who voted against releasing the Epstein files?

1. Summary of the results

The original statement inquires about the names of politicians who voted against releasing the Epstein files. According to the analyses, in the Senate, 49 senators, including all Democrats and two Republicans (Rand Paul and Josh Hawley), voted against tabling the amendment to release the Epstein files ^[1]. This implies that these senators were in favor of releasing the files. In contrast, the majority of the Senate, consisting of 51 senators, voted in favor of tabling the amendment, effectively voting against the release of the Epstein files ^[1]. However, the names of these senators are not specified in the analyses. In the House, a subcommittee voted 8-2 to subpoena the Department of Justice for records related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, with three Republicans (Nancy Mace, Brian Jack, and Scott Perry) joining the Democrats in voting for the subpoena ^[2]. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee voted 20-19 to block a Democratic motion to subpoena four banks for records related to Jeffrey Epstein, but the names of the politicians who voted against the subpoena are not provided ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the names of the politicians who voted against releasing the Epstein files. While some analyses provide information on the voting patterns of certain senators and representatives, such as Sens. Josh Hawley and Rand Paul voting against tabling the amendment to release the Epstein files ^[1], and Rep. Jamie Raskin moving for the panel to issue a subpoena to JPMorgan and other banks associated with Epstein ^[3], the names of those who voted against the release are not specified. Alternative viewpoints are also present, with some sources suggesting that GOP momentum is growing to force the Trump DOJ to release the Epstein files ^[4], while others report that the GOP-controlled committee voted down the request to subpoena banks for records related to Epstein ^[3]. Furthermore, the motivations behind the voting patterns are not explicitly stated in the analyses, leaving room for interpretation ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading as it implies that there is a clear list of politicians who voted against releasing the Epstein files, when in fact, the analyses do not provide a comprehensive list of names. Additionally, the statement lacks context regarding the voting patterns and motivations of the politicians involved. The sources cited may also have different biases, with some sources appearing to support the release of the Epstein files ^{[1] [2]}, while others seem to be more neutral or focused on the political clashes surrounding the issue ^{[3] [5]}. It is essential to consider these potential biases when evaluating the information presented. The beneficiaries of each viewpoint are also unclear, as some sources may be promoting the release of the Epstein files to embarrass certain politicians or parties ^[1], while others may be seeking to protect individuals or interests ^[3].