In a remarkable display of bipartisan urgency, the United States Senate has raced to pass legislation demanding the full disclosure of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decisive move came just hours after the House of Representatives delivered near-unanimous approval for the same bill, creating overwhelming political momentum.
Lightning-fast legislative action
The Senate utilised a procedural manoeuvre known as unanimous consent to pass the legislation immediately upon its arrival from the House, effectively bypassing potential delays. This swift action sends the bill directly to President Donald Trump's desk for his expected signature.
The Senate's rapid approval followed an overwhelming House vote of 427 to 1, demonstrating rare cross-party consensus on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that amendments were unnecessary given the bill's overwhelming support and the President's commitment to sign it into law.
Trump's dramatic reversal
President Trump's position on the Epstein files release underwent a significant transformation. In September, he had dismissed the efforts as a "Democrat hoax," causing disappointment among Epstein survivors, some of whom had previously supported him.
Haley Robson, one of the survivors, expressed her regret to The Independent, stating: "I voted for him, I regret that. I have offered him several opportunities to if not, talk to survivors, meet with our attorneys, talk to them."
However, in a surprising about-face, Trump announced he would sign the legislation. Following the House passage, he made an extensive post on Truth Social indicating his preference for Republicans to focus on legislative accomplishments while moving forward with the Epstein files release.
Long road to transparency
The legislative victory represents the culmination of a protracted battle for transparency regarding Epstein, who preyed on numerous girls, many of whom are now adults who personally advocated on Capitol Hill for the files' release.
The effort gained momentum after the Department of Justice and FBI released a two-page memo in July stating that Epstein did not possess a "client list" and likely died by suicide while in federal custody in 2019.
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) initiated a discharge petition to circumvent congressional leadership and force a vote on releasing the files. The petition attracted support from every Democrat alongside Republican representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, and Lauren Boebert.
The petition faced months of delays after House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to swear in Representative Adelita Grijalva following her special election victory to replace her father. Johnson finally administered the oath to Grijalva last week, clearing the final procedural hurdle.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasised the public's right to transparency, telling The Independent: "The American people have waited long enough. They want to see what's in it."
With the legislation now headed to the President's desk, the long-awaited disclosure of Epstein-related documents appears imminent, marking a significant victory for victims and transparency advocates who have campaigned for years to uncover the full truth about Epstein's network and activities.
