U.S. Senate unanimously approves bill to release Epstein files following House passage

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a House-passed bill that requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files related to late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The bill still needs the signature of U.S. President Donald Trump. The upper chamber passed the bill by unanimous consent just hours after the House passed it nearly unanimously.

The Senate's approval occurred before the bill was officially sent from the House. "My unanimous consent request guarantees that the Senate will immediately pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act without any further action. As soon as it comes over from the House, we will pass the House's bill without changes, without delay, and we will finally get this done," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor before requesting unanimous consent.

A few hours earlier, the House voted 427-1 to pass the Act, showing nearly unanimous support. The bill mandates the DOJ to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein that it possesses. The DOJ may withhold specific information, such as personally identifiable information about victims and materials that could jeopardize an active federal investigation.

The Congressional approval came just two days after Trump unexpectedly reversed his stance and urged Republican House members to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files. 

U.S. media suggested that Trump's 180-degree turnaround was driven by the fact that many Republican representatives were already planning to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files. Epstein had close ties with numerous prominent American political and business figures. After being arrested on sexual offense charges, he died in prison in August 2019, in what was officially ruled a suicide. 

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised that, if elected, he would release documents related to the Epstein case. However, on July 7, the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a memorandum stating that there is no "incriminating client list," no evidence that Epstein's death was a murder, and that no further Epstein-related documents would be released. 

The newly-approved bill was introduced in the House in mid-July, but Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delayed the process for months. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie have led a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote once it gathers 218 signatures. 

Last Wednesday, the petition gained the final signature it needed. Also on Wednesday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released Epstein-related documents involving Trump. Republicans on the committee then released a much larger batch of files in response, accusing the Democrats of cherry-picking. 

On Friday, Trump instructed the DOJ to investigate prominent Democrats linked to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton. Critics see the move as an effort to counter the effects of the Epstein-related documents involving Trump that Democrats recently released.

(With input from agencies)