In a rare bipartisan move, the U.S. House and Senate have approved legislation to compel the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, with both chambers acting on November 18, 2025, in a show of overwhelming support. The votes mark a significant step towards transparency in the long-contested case, potentially revealing new details about the convicted sex offender’s network.
The House of Representatives voted 427 to 1 in favor of the measure, with only Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana opposing it. Higgins argued that the bill could harm innocent people by abandoning standard criminal justice procedures, but his stance was isolated amid broad consensus. The near-unanimous vote followed months of internal Republican division, highlighting the political tensions that had previously stalled progress on the issue.
Shortly after the House vote, the Senate approved the bill through a unanimous consent process orchestrated by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, bypassing a formal roll call. This swift action ensured the legislation would be sent to President Donald Trump without delay, reflecting the urgency both parties placed on the matter. Schumer’s motion faced no objections, effectively passing the bill and setting the stage for presidential approval.
President Trump’s support for the release marked a dramatic reversal from his previous opposition, where he had criticized Republicans pushing for transparency. His change of heart over the weekend helped unify the party, though he maintained that the effort was a “hoax” distracting from his administration’s successes. Trump’s endorsement came after it became clear that the discharge petition would force a vote, demonstrating the limits of his influence over congressional Republicans.
The legislation was advanced through a discharge petition led by Representatives Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California. This procedural maneuver gathered signatures from a majority of House members, including the decisive 218th from newly sworn-in Democrat Adelita Grijalva, forcing the vote without leadership approval. Massie noted that the effort required defying the president, attorney general, and House speaker, but ultimately drew near-unanimous backing.
Ahead of the vote, survivors of Epstein’s sex trafficking network joined lawmakers at the Capitol, sharing harrowing stories and calling for transparency. One survivor, Jena-Lisa Jones, directly addressed President Trump, urging him to stop politicizing their fight and describing his behavior as a “national embarrassment.” Their emotional appeals underscored the human cost of the delays and the importance of accountability for victims.
The passage of this bill follows recent releases of Epstein-related documents by the House Oversight Committee, which have sparked new questions about the extent of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. Democrats and some Republicans have emphasized the need for full disclosure to ensure justice, while the political fallout has exposed fractures within the MAGA movement, as noted by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
With the bill now headed to the president’s desk, the Justice Department will be compelled to make public its investigative files on Epstein, potentially revealing more details about his associates and operations. This move is seen as a landmark achievement for transparency advocates, though it may fuel further political debates and investigations in the weeks ahead.
