WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US Congress has overwhelmingly voted to compel the Department of Justice to release all unclassified files related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking one of the most bipartisan moves on Capitol Hill this year.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the measure in a lopsided 427–1 vote, with only Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana objecting.
The Senate swiftly adopted it hours later through unanimous consent, fast-tracking the bill without debate or amendment.
The dramatic shift in momentum came just days after President Donald Trump reversed course and urged lawmakers to support the disclosure—despite previously dismissing the push as politically motivated.
His U-turn followed public pressure from his own supporters after the release of more than 20,000 pages of documents last week, some referencing him. The White House has denied any wrongdoing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had repeatedly labelled the effort a “Democrat hoax,” also changed position and voted in favour of disclosure.
Under the legislation, Attorney General Pam Bondi will be required to release all unclassified records, emails, investigative materials and communications connected to Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of the bill’s enactment.
The documents include flight logs, internal DOJ correspondence and lists of individuals linked to Epstein’s operations.
However, Bondi may withhold materials that would jeopardise ongoing federal investigations or reveal victims’ identities.
A congressional vote was not technically required—Trump could have ordered the release himself—but lawmakers acted following weeks of political wrangling.
Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna of California, who jointly introduced the measure, led the bipartisan charge.
Massie, long at odds with his party’s mainstream, has faced criticism from Trump but has remained defiant.
“In 2030, he’s not going to be the president,” Massie told ABC News, adding that Republicans opposing transparency “will have voted to protect paedophiles.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a loyal Trump ally who has since fallen out with him over the issue, also championed the bill.
Speaking at a news conference earlier Tuesday, she urged Trump to support the survivors and accused him of political self-interest.
“Let me tell you what a traitor is,” she said. “A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves.”
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse, including Annie Farmer, appeared at the event and called the secrecy surrounding the files an “institutional betrayal.”
“Because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed,” Farmer said.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 in what officials ruled a suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Thousands of documents gathered during two investigations—including transcripts of victim and witness interviews—remain sealed.
The bill now heads to the president’s desk, where Trump is expected to sign it into law.
