Senate Clears Bill to Unseal Epstein Files; 427‑1 House Vote Sends Measure to President

The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved legislation that will require the release of investigative records connected to Jeffrey Epstein, following a 427‑1 vote in the House and a shift in support from President Donald Trump and several Republican allies who had previously resisted the bipartisan effort.

Senators passed the measure by unanimous consent, a procedure that speeds approval by forgoing a formal roll call. Having cleared the House earlier in the day, the bill now heads to the White House, where the president has indicated he will sign it.

What the bill does and why it matters

The legislation compels the disclosure of investigative files related to Epstein, the financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex‑trafficking charges. Advocates and survivors say the release will provide transparency and accountability for victims; some lawmakers and critics caution that disclosures must protect victims’ identities and other sensitive information.

Reactions from lawmakers and survivors

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged the chamber to act, saying:

“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough. Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”

Survivors and advocates applauded the vote in the House gallery. Representative Ro Khanna called the action “the first day of real reckoning for the Epstein class,” and said the disclosures could provoke a national moral reckoning over how such abuses occurred.

Some Republicans who voted for the bill expressed reservations about Democrats’ motives or about the bill’s protections for victims. Representative Clay Higgins was the lone House vote against the measure, citing concerns that it could expose identifying details of witnesses and others implicated in the investigation. Representative Jim Jordan questioned the timing, asking why Democrats had not pursued the files earlier in the Biden administration.

How the measure reached a vote

Lawmakers cited a July Justice Department and FBI memo saying there was nothing more to disclose, which reignited calls for congressional action. Frustrated lawmakers used a discharge petition to force a vote in the House after leadership resisted consideration; four dissident Republicans joined all House Democrats to secure the necessary signatures.

Next steps and potential hurdles

The bill now awaits the president’s signature. If the Senate alters the text, any changes would require a new House vote and could delay enactment. As president, Mr. Trump also retains the authority to instruct the Justice Department to release records directly.

In the days leading up to the vote, the White House said released emails did not establish wrongdoing by Mr. Trump, even as the president ordered the Justice Department to open reviews into ties between Epstein and several prominent Democrats. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed a prosecutor to lead that effort.

Public pressure and aftermath

The case remains politically charged: it has energized survivors and advocates seeking transparency and prompted intense interest from parts of the public and media. Activists projected images and messages demanding release of the files; survivors cautioned that full transparency must be balanced with protections for victims and witnesses.

The bill’s enactment is likely to reignite public debate about Epstein’s network, the government’s handling of the case, and the responsibilities of political and law‑enforcement institutions to victims of sexual exploitation.