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 and 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 the 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 his concern about “innocent people being hurt” with the release of the information.
Trump’s reversal from attacking those on Capitol Hill who wanted the files released to saying there was “nothing to hide” surprised some in Washington.
The Republican congressional leadership was caught off guard after aligning their message with the president for the past few weeks opposing the release.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had called the push to release the Epstein files a Democrat hoax but voted in support of the release.
The measure had been expected to take a few days to reach the US Senate, but after the resounding vote in the House, the timeline quickly accelerated.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer invoked a procedure called unanimous consent, allowing the bill to advance without objection or debate.
The bill will head to the president’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.
A congressional vote was not required to release the files; Trump could have ordered the release independently.
The legislation requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to release “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days after the law is enacted.
This includes internal justice department communications, flight logs, and associations connected to Epstein, although some information may be withheld to protect ongoing investigations and victims.
Epstein, a financier, was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019 in what was ruled a suicide while facing sex trafficking charges.
Trump has previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. His shifting position raises questions about political accountability as the release of these documents approaches.
Critics like Congressman Thomas Massie supported the bill despite backlash and emphasized the need for transparency, highlighting the importance of supporting survivors of Epstein’s abuse.
Survivors have urged lawmakers and Trump to act for transparency, stating that withholding the files constitues “institutional betrayal.”
As this legislative situation develops, the implications for survivors, political parties, and public trust remain significant.
