The Epstein files are set to be made public following the passage of a bill known as the Epstein Transparency Act, which cleared both houses of Congress on Tuesday.
In a vote held on November 18, the bill received widespread bipartisan backing from Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives, with a near-unanimous approval and only one dissenting vote.
This legislation mandates the release of files by the Justice Department concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with the sole opposing vote cast by GOP Rep. Clay Higgins.
After passing in the House with a tally of 427 – 1, the bill swiftly moved to the Senate, where it also gained approval within hours and now awaits the signature of President Trump to become law.
The bill compels Attorney General Pam Bondi to release various “unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials” held by the Department of Justice related to Epstein.
Nevertheless, certain redactions will occur, such as omitting victims’ names and other identifying details, as well as excluding any content depicting or containing child sexual abuse material.
The Senate decided against making amendments, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial resistance until President Donald Trump reversed his stance on Monday, committing to sign the bill if it passed.
“When a bill passes the House for 27 to one and the president said he’ll sign it in law, I’m not sure that the there’s going to be a need for an amendment or desire for an amendment process,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked on Tuesday.
The legislation is now on its way to the President’s desk for signing into law—a development that seemed unlikely just three months prior.
The push for the files’ release has been ongoing for several months, supported by a petition signed by all Democrats and Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado. However, it had faced delays until the recent vote.
Even President Trump had referred to the petition to release the files as a “Democrat Hoax” back in September, coinciding with Epstein survivors, many of whom were Trump supporters, coming to Capitol Hill to advocate for their cause.
However, as the vote’s likelihood increased, Trump expressed unforeseen support on Truth Social, stating: “I don’t care when the Senate passes the House Bill, whether tonight, or at some other time in the near future.”
He also affirmed his commitment to sign the bill if it reached his desk.
Trump has faced ongoing allegations of being one of Jeffrey Epstein’s affluent clients and involved in his sex trafficking network, claims the President has consistently denied.