US Congress Approves Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Government Files, Sending Measure to President Trump:

The United States Congress has overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill that would require the release of government documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, clearing a major hurdle toward making the long-hidden files public. The House of Representatives passed the measure on Tuesday in a lopsided 427–1 vote, reflecting rare unity on an issue that has stirred national controversy for years. Within hours, the Senate agreed to adopt the bill by unanimous consent, even before the legislation was formally transmitted to the chamber. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. Trump has previously sent conflicting signals about releasing the Epstein records. He initially dismissed public interest in the files as a “hoax” before abruptly reversing his stance this month. Still, lawmakers stressed that neither the president nor the Department of Justice needed congressional approval to make the documents public, noting that the executive branch already has the authority to release them. The push to unveil the Epstein files has been spearheaded by an unusual political alliance: Democrat Ro Khanna and Republicans Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Ahead of the House vote, the trio appeared outside the U.S. Capitol with survivors of Epstein’s abuse to emphasize the urgency of transparency. “We fought the president, the attorney general, the FBI director, the speaker of the House and the vice president to get this win,” Massie said, flanked by survivors. “They’re on our side today, so let’s give them some credit as well.” One survivor, Jena-Lisa Jones, held up a photo of herself at age 14—the age when she first encountered Epstein. “I was a child. I was in ninth grade. I was hopeful for life and what the future held for me,” she said. “He stole a lot from me.” Epstein’s crimes and the powerful connections he cultivated have fueled public fascination for years. A wealthy financier, he abused girls and young women while maintaining relationships with influential figures in politics, academia, business, and media. His known associates included former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Britain’s Prince Andrew, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, he continued to move in elite circles, maintaining close ties with figures such as former Harvard University President Larry Summers, who recently apologized for staying connected to him. Epstein first pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. He served just 13 months in a minimum-security Florida facility, where he was granted daily work release for 12 hours—a sentence widely criticized as lenient and emblematic of preferential treatment. The Miami Herald later exposed major flaws in the handling of that case, prompting federal authorities to reopen the investigation. Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving minors. Two months later, he was found dead in his New York jail cell; the death was ruled a suicide. On Tuesday, tensions rose when Trump clashed with an ABC News reporter who asked why he would not release the files without waiting for Congress. Trump insisted the controversy was driven by political motives, claiming Epstein was “a major donor for Democratic politicians.” Massie, however, stressed that Epstein’s network cut across party lines. “I believe he’s trying to protect friends and donors,” Massie said. “And by the way, these aren’t necessarily Republicans. Once you get to a billion dollars, you transcend parties.” With congressional approval secured and the president expected to sign the bill, the long-secret government files on Epstein may soon see the light of day—potentially offering new insight into one of the most troubling and politically sensitive criminal cases in recent American history.

NEWS