By Harshit
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 19, 2025
In a dramatic and historic turn on Capitol Hill, both chambers of the United States Congress have ordered the Department of Justice to release all unclassified files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose network of powerful associates has fueled years of speculation, legal battles and public scrutiny.
The House of Representatives passed the measure in a stunning 427–1 vote, and the Senate fast-tracked the bill only hours later through unanimous consent, sending it directly to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature. The White House has indicated the president will sign it into law.
A Sudden Political Reversal
The decision to force disclosure comes just days after President Trump abruptly reversed his stance on the Epstein files. After weeks of attacking lawmakers pushing for transparency — especially those in his own party — Trump shifted course amid fierce public pressure from his political base, saying Republicans should vote for release because “we have nothing to hide.”
The stunning pivot blindsided GOP leadership. For nearly a month, Speaker Mike Johnson had echoed Trump’s earlier argument that the file-release effort was a “Democrat hoax.” Yet on Tuesday, Johnson himself voted yes.
The only vote against the bill came from Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who said he feared “innocent people being hurt” through premature disclosure.
What the Bill Will Reveal
The bill, now headed to the president’s desk, directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to release:
- All unclassified investigative materials relating to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
- Communications, documents, and internal DOJ records
- Flight logs and visitor lists
- Names of individuals associated with Epstein’s network
However, the attorney general retains authority to redact information that might:
- Jeopardize ongoing federal investigations
- Identify victims without consent
Still, the scope of the mandated release is unprecedented — one of the most sweeping declassifications involving a major criminal case in modern US history.
Trump, Epstein and Renewed Political Turbulence
The issue erupted anew last week when the House Oversight Committee released more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents, including internal emails between Epstein and Maxwell. Some of these emails referenced Trump, though none alleged criminal wrongdoing. The White House called the emails “selectively leaked” and part of a “fake narrative.”
For years, Trump and Epstein socialized in similar social circles, though the president has long maintained he cut ties with Epstein before the financier’s 2008 conviction. Trump has denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
A Party Divided
The political fallout inside the Republican Party has been severe. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna led the bipartisan bill. Massie openly challenged Trump’s attempts to suppress the release.
“In 2030, he’s not going to be the president,” Massie said Sunday. “Anyone who votes against release will have voted to protect paedophiles.”
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — once one of Trump’s most ardent defenders — also broke ranks, calling Trump’s opposition to transparency “astonishing.” The president responded by labeling Greene a “traitor” and vowing not to endorse her in 2026.
Greene, meanwhile, framed the issue as moral rather than political:
“Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American who serves foreign countries and themselves. A patriot serves Americans — like the women standing behind me.”
Survivors Demand the Truth
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse stood alongside lawmakers Tuesday, urging Congress to force release of the files.
Annie Farmer, who has spoken publicly for years, called the sealing of documents an act of “institutional betrayal.”
“Because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed,” she said.
Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre — one of the most prominent Epstein accusers — said she would have been “proud” to see Congress act.
“She paved the way,” Roberts said. “And we won’t stop.”
What Happens Next
Once signed by President Trump, the Justice Department will have 30 days to release the materials, with limited redactions.
The move raises major questions:
- Will the files name previously unknown associates?
- Will public disclosure spark new criminal cases?
- How will the DOJ balance transparency with protecting victims?
- Will the political battle intensify if high-profile names appear in the documents?
For now, Congress has delivered a rare show of near-unanimity — and put the federal government on the clock for one of the most anticipated document releases in recent American history.