In brief
Congress has approved a bill mandating the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, which includes documents related to sexual abuse allegations. The House passed the measure with an overwhelming vote, while Senate leaders expedited its approval without debate. This move marks a major shift as President Trump, initially resistant, endorsed the release following public and political pressure. The task now falls to the Attorney General to ensure the documents are made public within 30 days, as concerns persist about the implications for ongoing investigations.
Both chambers of Congress agreed to order the US Justice Department to release its files on sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the measure in a 427-1 vote, while the Senate unanimously fast-tracked it without a formal vote.
The moves come just days after President Donald Trump reversed his position and urged Congress to vote to disclose the records following public pushback from many of his supporters.
Last week, Trump and his ties to Epstein were thrust back into headlines after more than 20,000 pages of documents — some mentioning the president — were released. The White House denied any wrongdoing.
Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the sole House objector and cited concern about “innocent people being hurt” with the release of the information.
Trump’s shift surprised many in Washington, especially as House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously condemned the push as a Democrat hoax but later voted for the release.
The bill is set to be signed into law by the president. It requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including internal communications and flight logs, within 30 days of enactment.
This legislative move was spurred by public demands and political accountability efforts concerning Epstein’s actions and its implications for victims and potential co-conspirators.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have urged lawmakers and Trump to ensure the files are made public, arguing that transparency is crucial for justice.
