Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Nov 19: In a rare and striking display of bipartisan unity, both the US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed a bill directing the Justice Department to publicly release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move marks a significant victory for survivors and lawmakers who have long demanded accountability in the high-profile trafficking case that has shaken global political and business circles.
The legislation—which had struggled for months against firm opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership—gathered unexpected momentum after a small bipartisan group launched a discharge petition in July to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson’s control of the floor. Trump, who initially dismissed the effort as a “hoax,” eventually bowed to political pressure, indicating he would sign the bill. Hours after the House passed it with an overwhelming 427–1 majority, the Senate cleared it unanimously.
The push for transparency has been a long fight for survivors of Epstein’s abuse. Standing with them outside the Capitol, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called the moment “a watershed victory.”
“These women have fought the most horrific fight that no woman should have to fight,” Greene said. “They united, stayed strong and stood up against some of the most powerful people in the world—even the president of the United States.”
Only one lawmaker—Rep. Clay Higgins, a staunch Trump ally—voted against the bill, citing concerns about the risk of revealing information about individuals not involved in wrongdoing.
Under the legislation, the Justice Department must release within 30 days all documentation and communications relating to Epstein, including materials from the investigation into his 2019 death inside a Manhattan federal jail. Redactions will be allowed only to protect victims or ongoing probes—not to prevent “embarrassment or political sensitivity.”
Though Trump has long claimed he cut ties with Epstein years ago, pressure from within the Republican base continued to mount for full disclosure. Survivors, bundled against the November cold and holding photos of themselves as teenagers, shared heart-wrenching accounts of abuse outside the Capitol.
“We are exhausted from surviving the trauma and surviving the politics around it,” one survivor said.
Another survivor, Jena-Lisa Jones—who had voted for Trump—pleaded, “I beg you, Donald Trump, please stop making this political.”
Political drama also played out over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s handling of the proceedings. Johnson halted legislative business for nearly two months and delayed the swearing-in of Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva, whose signature was critical for the petition to move forward. Once sworn in last week, her support gave the petition the required majority, forcing Johnson and Trump to retreat.
Greene later claimed the fight had “ripped MAGA apart,” accusing Trump of betraying his own movement.
Despite raising concerns that the bill might unintentionally expose sensitive information, Johnson voted in favour, saying no lawmaker wanted to appear opposed to “maximum transparency.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune rejected calls to amend the bill, ensuring its swift passage. In a symbolic moment, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin—considered close to Trump—entered the chamber, flashed a thumbs-up to Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and shook his hand moments before the bill cleared.
“This is about giving Americans the transparency they’ve been crying out for,” Schumer said. “This is about holding accountable all the people in Epstein’s circle who groomed, exploited, and abused hundreds of girls for years.”
The Justice Department will now be required to release Epstein’s files within a month—potentially unveiling explosive details about the influential network surrounding one of the most scandalous criminal cases of the century.