Washington, DC [US], November 19 (HBTV): The US Senate on Tuesday (local time) unanimously agreed to pass the bipartisan, House-backed bill requiring the Department of Justice to make the Epstein files public, CNN reported.
With the Senate’s approval, no further action is needed in the chamber, and the bill will now be sent directly to President Donald Trump for his signature to become law.
Earlier, the US House of Representatives on Tuesday (local time) passed a bipartisan bill requiring the US Department of Justice to release all case files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to CNN. The measure passed with overwhelming support, receiving a 427-1 vote, with only Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana opposing it.
The legislation, which has gained support across party lines, aims to ensure full transparency for the public and justice for survivors of Epstein’s abuse.
Republican Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene held a press conference earlier on Capitol Hill, urging their colleagues to support the bill, CNN reported. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse spoke during the briefing, sharing their experiences and emphasising the need for the files’ release.
US President Donald Trump has also expressed his support for the bill, urging House Republicans to back it. In a rare reversal, he publicly called on Congress to pass the measure and pledged to sign it into law if it reached his desk, CNN reported.
However, Democratic Representative Robert Garcia criticised the Trump administration for not releasing the files earlier. Garcia pointed out that the president has the authority to release the documents immediately without waiting for congressional approval. He said at the press conference, as quoted by CNN, that the president ‘has the power to release the files today’ and does not need ‘a vote’ to do so.
As the Epstein case continues to develop, the House vote comes at a moment when public attention is divided between demands for transparency and the broader national political landscape.
(ANI)