US Congress Orders Release of Epstein Files, Trump Set to Sign Bill

The US Congress has passed legislation mandating the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, with President Donald Trump expected to sign the measure.

The House of Representatives approved the bill in a 427-1 vote, while the Senate indicated it would swiftly pass the measure via unanimous consent, sending it to the president for final approval.

Survivors of Epstein spoke at the US Capitol in support of the bill, citing years of “institutional betrayal” and demanding transparency over documents amassed during federal investigations.

The so-called Epstein files include interview transcripts with victims and witnesses, confiscated items from Epstein’s properties, flight logs, and communications involving his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

Trump, who previously had social and business ties with Epstein, had initially opposed the release but reversed his position over the weekend, stating there was “nothing to hide” and urging Republicans to support disclosure.

The bill allows the Attorney General to withhold information that could compromise ongoing federal investigations or reveal the identities of victims. The Justice Department is expected to release the records within 30 days of enactment, though certain sensitive details may be redacted.

Past releases from Epstein’s estate include 20,000 pages of documents referencing Trump and other high-profile figures. None of the documents indicate wrongdoing by those mentioned.

Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019, in what authorities ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.