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Congress orders Justice Department to release Epstein files
The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly approved a measure to compel the Department of Justice to release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking a sudden shift after President Donald Trump reversed his opposition to the disclosure.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in a 427-1 vote Wednesday, with only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) dissenting, citing concerns about "innocent people being hurt." The Senate fast-tracked the measure without debate, sending it to Trump's desk for his expected signature.
Trump's abrupt reversal sparks rapid legislative action
Trump had previously opposed the release, calling efforts to disclose the records a "Democrat hoax." But after public backlash from his supporters, he urged Congress to approve the measure, declaring there was "nothing to hide." The reversal caught Republican leadership off guard, as they had aligned with Trump's earlier stance against transparency.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had repeatedly dismissed the push as a partisan ploy, ultimately voted in favor. The Senate expedited the process under unanimous consent, bypassing formal debate.
What the bill requires-and what it protects
The legislation mandates Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified materials related to Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. This includes internal Justice Department communications, flight logs, and records tied to Epstein's network.
However, Bondi retains discretion to redact information that could compromise ongoing federal investigations or expose victims' identities. Epstein, a financier with ties to elite circles, died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Emails resurface Trump-Epstein connections
The push for transparency gained momentum after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three email chains last week, including exchanges between Epstein and Maxwell. One 2011 message referenced Trump: "I want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is Trump... [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him."
The White House identified the victim as Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died in April. Giuffre had previously stated she never witnessed Trump engaging in abuse. Her brother, Sky Roberts, praised her advocacy after Wednesday's vote:
"She did it, she paved the way... for her survivor sisters to come forward, and we won't stop," Roberts said.
Bipartisan effort defies party lines
The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent Trump critic, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Massie dismissed GOP colleagues opposing release as "protecting pedophiles," while Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), once a Trump ally, called his resistance a "betrayal" of survivors.
At a press conference Tuesday, Greene and survivors like Annie Farmer condemned the secrecy.
"Because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed," Farmer said.
Next steps: 30-day deadline for DOJ
With Trump's signature expected, the Justice Department now has 30 days to begin disclosing thousands of pages of investigative files-unless Bondi invokes exemptions for active probes or victim privacy. The materials could shed light on Epstein's operations and his connections to powerful figures.
