In a rare display of near-unanimity, both chambers of the United States Congress have passed a landmark bill compelling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release its files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 18, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in a saga that has long entangled some of the world’s most powerful figures and spurred intense public scrutiny.
The House of Representatives approved the measure with a resounding 427-1 vote, swiftly followed by the Senate’s unanimous consent, a procedure that bypassed a formal roll call and signaled broad bipartisan support. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk, with the White House indicating he will sign it into law once the Senate returns to session the following day. This rapid legislative action comes after years of mounting pressure from survivors, lawmakers, and the public for transparency regarding the government’s investigation into Epstein and his associates.
Epstein’s case has been a lightning rod for controversy since his first conviction in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor—a charge that saw him serve just 13 months in a minimum-security facility, with daily work release privileges. Critics, as reported by BBC and Al Jazeera, have long argued that the punishment was grossly disproportionate to the severity of his crimes. The saga reignited in 2019 when, following a Miami Herald investigation, federal authorities reopened the case, leading to Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges. Just two months later, he was found dead in his New York jail cell, in what was officially ruled a suicide.
The new legislation mandates that the DOJ release “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to the Epstein investigation and prosecution. These materials must be provided in a "searchable and downloadable format," ensuring accessibility for the public and media. However, the Act does allow the DOJ to withhold information that could jeopardize ongoing federal investigations or expose the personal information of victims—an important safeguard, lawmakers say, to protect those who have already suffered.
The lone dissent in the House came from Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who defended his vote by warning that the bill "reveals and injures thousands of innocent people—witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc." Higgins’ concern about collateral damage was echoed in some corners of Congress, but ultimately did little to slow the bill’s momentum.
President Trump’s involvement in the controversy has been characteristically turbulent. Initially, he dismissed calls for release as a "Democrat hoax," insisting that the focus should be on other national issues. However, public outcry—including pressure from his own supporters—prompted a dramatic reversal. As BBC noted, Trump surprised many in Washington by urging Congress to pass the bill and declaring there was “nothing to hide.” The White House later clarified that the president could have ordered the files’ release independently, but preferred to act with congressional backing.
Trump’s about-face caught Republican leaders off guard, particularly House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had previously labeled the push for transparency a partisan stunt. Yet, when the time came, Johnson voted in favor, reflecting the overwhelming consensus in the chamber. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told CNN that the House’s near-unanimous approval convinced Senate leadership to expedite the bill’s passage using unanimous consent. “I think the conclusion was when it came out of the House 427-1, it was going to pass in the Senate,” Thune said.
The legislative drive was spearheaded by an unlikely coalition: Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Democrat Ro Khanna of California, and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Each has been vocal about the need for transparency and accountability. Massie, in particular, has faced criticism from fellow Republicans and even the president himself, but has remained steadfast. “In 2030, he’s not going to be the president,” Massie told ABC News, referencing Trump. He added that those opposing the bill “will have voted to protect paedophiles.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch Trump ally, broke with the president over the issue, calling him a "traitor" for resisting the files’ release. “Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves; a patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans like the women standing behind me,” Greene declared at a press conference, as reported by BBC.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse played a crucial role in propelling the bill forward. On the day of the vote, several spoke out on the Capitol steps, demanding justice and transparency. Jena-Lisa Jones, holding a photo of herself at age 14, recounted, “I was a child. I was in ninth grade. I was hopeful for life and what the future had held for me. He stole a lot from me.” Annie Farmer, another survivor, condemned the years of institutional silence: “Because these crimes were not properly investigated, so many more girls and women were harmed. Keeping the files under wraps amounts to institutional betrayal.”
The files in question are expected to include a trove of internal DOJ communications, flight logs, and documentation of individuals and entities connected to Epstein. Some of these documents, including emails between Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, have already been released, with more than 20,000 pages made public in the week prior to the vote. Among them was a 2011 email in which Epstein mentioned then-businessman Trump, but there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing by Trump in the released materials. According to BBC, the White House maintains that the emails were "selectively leaked" to smear the president.
Epstein’s network spanned the globe, with connections to figures such as former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, former British Prince Andrew, and former US President Bill Clinton. Even after his 2008 conviction, Epstein maintained relationships with influential leaders, including former Harvard University President Larry Summers, who later apologized for his association.
The bill’s passage has exposed political rifts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters, “The fight continues until the American people see all of the documents.” He voiced skepticism about whether the DOJ would fully comply, warning, “We know there’s a corrupt Justice Department.” Others, like Democratic Senator Peter Welch, called the legislation “long overdue” but questioned whether Trump might find ways to delay or obstruct the files’ release. Republican Senator John Kennedy, meanwhile, praised the bipartisan effort, saying, “Now we can move on from the issue. The president will sign the bill, and presumably the documents will be released and the American people can make up their minds.”
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is now poised to become law, setting a 30-day deadline for the DOJ to make the files public. As survivors, lawmakers, and the nation await what the documents may reveal, the episode stands as a testament to the power of public pressure—and the complicated, often messy process of government transparency in the face of scandal.
