In a significant and rare display of cross-party unity, the United States Senate has approved legislation that will mandate the public release of long-secret investigative files concerning the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Overwhelming Bipartisan Support
The Senate gave its final approval to the bill on Tuesday through a process known as unanimous consent, signalling there was no opposition. This decisive move came just hours after the US House of Representatives passed the very same measure with an overwhelming majority of 427 votes to 1.
The legislation, which President Donald Trump had reportedly resisted for months, represents a major victory for survivors and transparency advocates. Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a usual Trump ally who broke with the president on this issue, celebrated the move on social media, stating, "Americans are done being lied to. These survivors deserve full transparency. Every document, every truth, every name."
A Shift in the White House
The scandal surrounding the Epstein documents has been a persistent issue for the Trump administration since his return to the Oval Office. For months, the president had dismissed the controversy over the government's handling of the Epstein case as a "Democrat hoax".
However, over the weekend, President Trump reversed his position. He publicly urged Republican lawmakers to support the measure, which many of their constituents were demanding. Despite this, he attempted to downplay the timing on his Truth Social platform, posting, "I just don't want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the victories that we've had."
Consequences and Next Steps
The bill is expected to be sent to President Trump's desk for his signature as early as Wednesday, according to Senate majority leader John Thune. The president has already told reporters he intends to sign it into law.
Congressman Ro Khanna, the Democrat who sponsored the bill alongside Republican Thomas Massie, suggested that the survivors who campaigned for this transparency should be present at the bill signing. "Against all odds, the survivors kept fighting," Khanna said. "This victory is theirs."
The release of the files is already having real-world repercussions. The New York Times has announced it will sever ties with former treasury secretary Larry Summers after previously released documents revealed he maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the financier's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In other political developments, President Trump confirmed a new security agreement with Saudi Arabia, elevating the kingdom to a "major non-Nato ally". This announcement followed a meeting with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, and came despite a US intelligence assessment that the prince approved the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
