In a landmark decision, the United States Congress has voted to compel the full release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move follows a stunning political U-turn by former President Donald Trump, who had previously attempted to block the publication.
A Bipartisan Push for Transparency
The House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming support from both sides of the political aisle. The final tally saw 216 Republicans and 211 Democrats voting in favour, with only a single Republican opposing the bipartisan bill.
This legislation mandates that the US Justice Department must publish all files connected to the Epstein case within 30 days. These documents are anticipated to include material concerning Prince Andrew, Ghislaine Maxwell—who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence—various government officials named in the case, and internal departmental communications spanning decades.
Trump's Dramatic Reversal and Internal GOP Conflict
The vote culminated in a significant political drama, centring on Donald Trump. After weeks of his administration reportedly trying to prevent the files' release, Trump performed a complete reversal, publicly urging Republican lawmakers to back the vote.
This shift came amid one of the most intense internal battles within the MAGA movement since Trump took office. The controversy was ignited after a searchable database of 23,000 documents was released by the House Oversight Committee, which revealed that Trump is the most frequently mentioned individual in the files, appearing more times than Epstein himself.
High-profile Republicans broke ranks over the issue. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a once-fervent Trump ally, publicly accused him of trying to stop the vote, stating he had “fought harder to block the Epstein files than anyone expected.” Trump retaliated by labelling her a “traitor,” exposing deep fractures within the party. Other figures like Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace also supported the release.
A senior Republican aide described the internal rift as “the biggest internal meltdown since the fallout from January 6,” noting it was an issue Trump could not control.
Historical Context and Unfulfilled Promises
The complex relationship between Trump and Epstein has long been a subject of scrutiny. Trump once described the disgraced financier as a "terrific guy" in a now-infamous quote, adding that Epstein "likes beautiful women as much as I do, many of them on the younger side." These comments have resurfaced repeatedly since Epstein's initial arrest in 2006 and his death in a jail cell in 2019.
While Trump has since claimed he cut ties with Epstein before the financier first faced charges, his shifting narrative and initial resistance to the files' release have raised more questions. Critics also point to his 2020 campaign promise to release all Epstein documents if elected—a promise that went unfulfilled, with Trump later dismissing the documents as a “hoax.”
What Happens Next?
While the bill has successfully passed the House, its future remains uncertain. The Republican-controlled Senate is under no obligation to consider the measure. If it does not advance, the widespread public anticipation for full transparency in one of the most notorious criminal cases of the modern era may yet be thwarted.
All eyes will now be on the Senate to see if it heeds the bipartisan call from the House and forces the Justice Department to finally unveil the secrets contained within the Epstein files.
