The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly voted to force the release of Justice Department documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move marks a major step toward public transparency after years of controversy surrounding Epstein’s connections and his 2019 jailhouse death.
The House passed the measure 427-1, sending it quickly to the Senate, which approved it unanimously the same day. The bill is now on its way to President Donald Trump, who, a senior White House official says, intends to sign it despite opposing the effort for months.
The fast action surprised many inside the White House, who expected the Senate to take more time. Trump’s sudden shift came after growing political pressure and internal disagreements within his own party over how to handle the Epstein case.
Before the vote, around two dozen women who say Epstein abused them gathered at the U.S. Capitol. They held photos of themselves as teenagers and urged Congress to release the documents. Many watched the vote from the gallery, some crying and applauding as the measure passed.
One survivor, Jena-Lisa Jones, who says she was abused at age 14, called on Trump to stop turning the issue into political drama. She said his handling of the matter had been “a national embarrassment.”
Trump told reporters he had “nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” repeating that he removed him from his club years ago. He also criticized the media for asking questions about Epstein and continued to call the topic a “Democratic hoax,” even though many Republicans strongly support releasing the files.
The political fallout continues. Representative Thomas Massie, who led the bill, accused the Justice Department of protecting powerful individuals. He said the effort will be successful “when rich men are in handcuffs.”
Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene revealed Trump privately pressured her to withdraw her support. After she refused, he publicly called her a “traitor,” damaging their once-close alliance.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the issue has hurt Trump politically. Only 20% of voters approve of his handling of the matter, including less than half of Republicans.
Epstein’s history remains at the center of public attention. He pleaded guilty to a felony prostitution charge in 2008 and later faced federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 before his death, which was ruled a suicide. His past social ties to Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s continue to raise questions as the demand for transparency grows.
The release of the Justice Department files is expected to shed new light on Epstein’s network, legal history, and the institutions that handled his cases.
