By Gloria Nosa
In a rare display of near-unanimous agreement, the United States Congress has moved to force the public release of long-sealed federal documents connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The House of Representatives voted 427–1 on Tuesday to compel the Department of Justice to make all unclassified files available to the public — a move survivors have long demanded.
A Bipartisan Push for Transparency
The resolution, which sailed through the Senate shortly after clearing the House, requires the Justice Department, FBI, and other federal agencies to release unclassified materials relating to Epstein’s crimes, his network of associates, and the circumstances surrounding his death in federal custody in 2019.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the vote a landmark moment for transparency.
“The American people have waited long enough — and Epstein’s survivors have waited even longer,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Sunlight is overdue.”
Only one House member, Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, voted against the measure.
Bill Heads to President Trump
The legislation is expected to land on President Donald Trump’s desk as early as Wednesday. White House officials confirmed that the president intends to sign it immediately.
The Epstein case has remained politically sensitive for Trump, whose critics frequently raise questions about Epstein’s past associations with high-profile figures, including politicians, billionaires, and foreign leaders. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges — a death ruled a suicide but still widely debated.
Survivors Demand the Truth
Ahead of the House vote, dozens of women who say they suffered abuse within Epstein’s network gathered outside the Capitol alongside lawmakers from both major parties. They appealed for the release of documents that could finally provide clarity — and accountability — years after Epstein’s crimes first came to light.
Following the vote, survivors watching from the gallery reportedly burst into tears, hugging one another as the tally was read. Some called Tuesday’s action “the first real step” toward justice.
Tense Exchange at the White House
While hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Oval Office, President Trump erupted at a reporter who asked a question about the bill and Epstein’s connections.
“You’re a terrible person,” Trump snapped, adding that the television network the journalist worked for “should lose its license.”
The president insisted, once again, that he had no ties to Epstein.
“I kicked him out of my club years ago,” Trump told reporters. “I wanted nothing to do with him.”
What Happens Next
The bill’s enactment would trigger a structured release of unclassified Epstein-related records, similar to the process used for declassifying JFK assassination files. The Justice Department would be required to publish the documents online, with only national-security-sensitive information eligible for redaction.
Members of Congress say the release could finally answer lingering questions about Epstein’s associates, his operations, and the failures that allowed him to evade accountability for decades.
