Overview
- After months of resistance, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427-1, with Rep. Clay Higgins casting the lone vote against it.
- The Senate granted unanimous consent to pass the bill upon receipt, positioning it for President Donald Trump’s signature after his late reversal in support.
- The law orders the Justice Department to release Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell records within 30 days and bars withholding for embarrassment or political sensitivity, while allowing protection of victims and active probes.
- Passage followed a discharge petition led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna and sustained advocacy by survivors, overruling House leadership’s efforts to stall a vote.
- New estate emails released by the House Oversight Committee that referenced Trump helped intensify pressure, and the scope and timing of disclosures now hinge on Justice Department redactions and any ongoing investigations.