NEW: “Hinson Missed Multiple Votes on Epstein Investigation”
American Journal News: The Missed Votes “Raise Questions About Her Commitment to Protecting Sexual Assault Survivors”
DES MOINES – A new analysis from American Journal News found Ashley Hinson missed “multiple house votes aimed at exposing Epstein and holding his co-conspirators accountable.”
Key context: Ashley Hinson is facing increasingly more questions from Iowans on her decision to block the release of the Epstein Files. For months, Hinson publicly opposed a bipartisan effort to release the Epstein Files, calling the effort last year the “wrong way” and “not how we should be doing business” even as Iowans were demanding transparency.
Earlier this month, three Iowans called into her telephone town hall demanding to know why she fought against releasing the Epstein Files, and an Iowa digital creator’s video at the Iowa State Fair went viral for calling out Hinson for blocking their release. Hinson has ignored repeated questions about why she worked for months to block the release of the files.
Here are the key votes Hinson missed, according to the report:
- Hinson missed two votes “intended to speed up the release of the files” and “another to block public funds from being used to prevent the release of visitor logs for Epstein’s residences and private jet.”
- Hinson missed a vote that “would have pressured the Justice Department to release records related to the prison transfer of Ghislaine Maxell, Epstein’s friend and romantic partner.”
- Hinson missed a vote that “would have prohibited the Justice Department from using funds to withhold or redact the Epstein files.”
- Hinson missed a vote that “would have required the attorney general to compile a report of all materials related to the investigation.”
- Hinson missed a vote “preventing public funds from being used to lift or bypass sanctions on alleged child traffickers.”
Missed the report? See below for more key highlights:
American Journal News: Hinson missed multiple votes on Epstein investigation
- Now it appears [Hinson] also missed multiple House votes aimed at exposing Epstein and holding his coconspirators accountable.
- All of the missed votes occurred in the House Appropriations Committee, which Hinson serves on. While her absences likely did not affect any vote outcomes, they do raise questions about her commitment to protecting sexual assault survivors.
- Most of Hinson’s missed votes were in September 2025, when Congress was debating compelling the release of Justice Department files related to the Epstein investigation. Many of Epstein’s victims were young girls.
- On Sept. 3, 2025, she missed two votes: one intended to speed up the release of the files and another to block public funds from being used to prevent the release of visitor logs for Epstein’s residences and private jet.
- Hinson missed votes again on Sept. 10, 2025, when the committee was considering multiple Epstein-related amendments to a federal funding bill. One of the amendments would have pressured the Justice Department to release records related to the prison transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s friend and romantic partner.
- Hinson was present for other amendment votes on Sept. 10, 2025, suggesting that she was in Washington D.C., despite missing the Epstein-related votes.
- The other amendments considered included one that would have prohibited the Justice Department from using funds to withhold or redact the Epstein files and another that would have required the attorney general to compile a report of all materials related to the investigation.
- In August, Hinson missed another committee vote on an amendment preventing public funds from being used to lift or bypass sanctions on alleged child traffickers.
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