The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a rare and consequential bill directing the Justice Department to publicly release the remaining files tied to the investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking a pivotal moment in a case long shrouded in secrecy.
The vote followed months of resistance from Republicans and President Donald Trump, who had opposed forcing the administration to disclose records connected to Epstein’s alleged child s*x trafficking network and his associations with prominent figures.
Survivors of Epstein were present in the chamber as the measure passed, with several becoming emotional as lawmakers cast their votes.
Earlier in the day, survivors and advocates held a press conference sharply criticizing the president’s refusal to release the materials without legislative pressure. Their public push increased political strain on Capitol Hill, where internal divisions within the GOP began to surface.
President Trump has repeatedly claimed that Democrats are using what he called a “hoax” surrounding the unreleased records to draw attention away from Republican achievements. But following growing pressure from within his party — including from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of his strongest allies — the president reversed course on Monday and urged GOP lawmakers to support the bill.
With the House’s approval secured, the legislation now heads to the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson has cautioned that senators may propose changes, setting up another round of negotiations before the bill can advance.
If enacted, the measure would require the DOJ to turn over a trove of documents that could shed new light on Epstein’s operations, associates, and the federal government’s handling of the case — materials long sought by journalists, investigators, and survivors.