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Epstein files bill to be sent to Trump after approval from Congress

November 19, 2025

Both chambers of Congress have voted to compel the Justice Department to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's criminal investigations, with the House passing the measure 427-1 and the Senate approving it through unanimous consent. President Trump, who initially opposed the release and criticized Republican supporters of the bill, reversed his position over the weekend and now says he will sign the legislation. The bill mandates Attorney General Pam Bondi to release unclassified materials within 30 days, though she retains authority to withhold information that could compromise active investigations or identify victims.

Who is affected

  • Jeffrey Epstein's survivors and victims, including Annie Farmer and the late Virginia Giuffre
  • Sky Roberts (Virginia Giuffre's brother)
  • President Donald Trump
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson
  • Republican Representatives Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Clay Higgins
  • Democrat Representatives Ro Khanna and Chuck Schumer
  • Ghislaine Maxwell (currently serving 20-year prison sentence)
  • Prominent figures mentioned in released documents
  • Republican congressional leadership
  • Major banks and prominent Democrats under investigation

What action is being taken

  • The House of Representatives has passed the bill with a 427-1 vote
  • The Senate is passing the bill through unanimous consent procedure
  • The bill is being sent to President Trump for signature
  • Trump has recently asked the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's alleged links to major banks and prominent Democrats
  • Epstein survivors are speaking at the Capitol and news conferences in support of the measure

Why it matters

  • This legislation is significant because it addresses years of what survivors describe as "institutional betrayal" by forcing transparency around investigations into a high-profile sex trafficking case. The release could provide accountability for Epstein's victims and potentially reveal information about individuals and entities connected to his crimes. The issue has created major political divisions within the Republican party, with Trump initially opposing release before reversing course, and has strained relationships between the president and formerly loyal supporters like Marjorie Taylor Greene. The matter also highlights ongoing questions about the adequacy of previous investigations, with survivors arguing that insufficient scrutiny allowed more victims to be harmed.

What's next

  • The Senate will receive the bill from the House on Wednesday morning
  • After Senate passage, the bill will be sent to President Trump for his signature
  • Once signed into law, Attorney General Pam Bondi must release unclassified records within 30 days
  • The materials to be released include internal Justice Department communications, flight logs, and information about people and entities connected to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Read full article from source: BBC