US Congress approves release of Epstein files

The United States Congress has cleared a new bill ordering the Department of Justice to release its files on late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The House of Representatives passed the measure on Tuesday with a 427–1 vote, while the Senate fast-tracked it minutes later through unanimous consent. The bill will now be sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

The decision comes after Trump—who had earlier opposed releasing the documents—changed his position following pressure from his supporters. The move surprised many in Washington, including Republican leaders who had previously echoed his resistance.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who once dismissed the push as a “Democrat hoax,” voted in favour of the release on Tuesday.

The bill directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records relating to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment. These include flight logs, internal communications, and documents naming people linked to Epstein. However, Bondi can still withhold information that could expose victims or disrupt active investigations.

Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges. He had previously been convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor.

The renewed debate comes after more than 20,000 pages of case files were released last week, with some documents mentioning Trump. The White House has denied any wrongdoing.

Lawmakers from both parties led the push for transparency. Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna cosponsored the legislation. Massie, who has clashed with Trump over the matter, said Republicans who opposed the release would be seen as “protecting paedophiles.”

Another Trump ally turned critic, Marjorie Taylor Greene, also backed the bill. She said she was standing with survivors and accused Trump of attacking those seeking justice.

Survivors of Epstein’s abuse urged Congress not to hold back the files. Annie Farmer, one of the victims, said the failure to fully investigate Epstein’s network had caused “institutional betrayal.”

The new law is expected to bring more details to light about Epstein’s activities, associates, and how the case was handled over the years.