Congress to Send Epstein Files Release Bill to Trump for Signature

Congress on Tuesday approved bipartisan legislation requiring the Justice Department to release thousands of pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, sending the measure to President Donald Trump, who has signaled he will sign it.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act cleared the House in a 427–1 vote and later passed the Senate by unanimous consent, reflecting rare and overwhelming bipartisan agreement. The bill mandates the disclosure of all unclassified Justice Department documents connected to Epstein’s crimes, his 2008 plea deal in Florida, his 2019 federal arrest, and his death in federal custody.

Federal agencies would have 30 days after the bill becomes law to begin releasing the records. Only limited redactions for victims’ identities and ongoing investigations would be permitted.

The measure’s final passage came hours after Trump dropped earlier objections. Although he had dismissed the focus on Epstein as a “hoax” in recent weeks, Trump told reporters Monday he would sign the legislation once it reached his desk.

“I’m all for transparency,” Trump said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the bill’s passage but expressed frustration that the Senate did not adopt amendments aimed at strengthening protections for victims’ identities and sensitive investigative information. “I am deeply disappointed,” Johnson said after the final vote.

Outside the Capitol, survivors of Epstein’s abuse gathered to watch the proceedings. Several later observed the vote from the House gallery, applauding as the results were announced.

“For years, we’ve been told to move on without knowing the truth,” one survivor said. “Now the public can finally see what happened and who enabled it.”

Epstein, a wealthy financier with deep social and political connections, pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution in a deal widely criticized as unusually lenient. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges and died weeks later in a Manhattan jail. His death was ruled a suicide.

The new legislation is expected to shine a light on Epstein’s network of associates, the decisions made during his prosecutions, and long-standing questions surrounding his plea agreements and detention. However, release of some materials may still be restricted if classified for national security or tied to ongoing federal investigations.

Legal experts say the bill represents one of the most expansive forced disclosures of federal criminal case material in modern history.

The White House is expected to receive the bill as early as Wednesday. Once signed, the Justice Department must begin releasing documents within 30 days, setting the stage for a wave of disclosures that could reshape public understanding of one of the most scrutinized criminal cases in decades.