The Senate moved fast on Wednesday, formally taking up the House bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and sending it straight to President Donald Trump without a single change. Senators had already agreed late Tuesday to approve it unanimously, so once the bill arrived from the House, it was considered passed on the spot.
This clean passage surprised House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had hoped the Senate would make changes he felt were necessary. Still, he admitted the process is now out of his hands and said he doesn’t expect Trump to veto it. “Congress has spoken,” Johnson said, adding that the White House will process the bill as soon as it arrives.
The legislation orders Attorney General Pam Bondi to release every unclassified DOJ document tied to Epstein within 30 days of the bill becoming law. It covers material on Epstein, his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and other figures connected to investigations, settlements, or agreements surrounding the case. Victims’ identities and anything involving child sexual abuse imagery will remain protected.
Trump has said he’ll sign the bill, though he’s been sending mixed messages online, urging Republicans to stay focused on his political agenda instead of the timing of the vote. A White House official later confirmed the bill will be signed once it reaches the West Wing. Trump didn’t need congressional approval to release the documents, but Congress pushed ahead anyway.
The bill triggered emotional reactions on Capitol Hill. When news broke that the Senate voted unanimously, House Democrats and several Epstein survivors erupted in cheers during a vigil, with many hugging and crying as the announcement was made.
Only one lawmaker in Congress voted against the bill — Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana. He said he opposed it out of concern for victims’ privacy, despite bipartisan assurances that the legislation shields all personal information and allows the DOJ to withhold anything tied to ongoing federal investigations.
Now the decision sits with Trump. He has until November 29 to sign or veto the bill. If he vetoes it, Congress would need a two-thirds majority to override him — a threshold they might realistically meet, given the near-unanimous support.
If Trump signs it, the Justice Department will be required to release the Epstein records, though the timeline remains unclear. The bill only mandates that unclassified files be made public unless doing so would interfere with an active investigation, in which case the DOJ can delay their release temporarily.
For now, all eyes are on the White House. The moment Trump signs, the countdown to one of the most anticipated document releases in years officially begins.
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