House to Vote on Epstein Files Disclosure Bill/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bipartisan bill requiring the Justice Department to release Jeffrey Epstein’s case files. After months of resistance from Donald Trump and House GOP leaders, growing public pressure and political momentum have shifted support in favor of the measure. Survivors and advocates continue urging transparency, while Senate action remains uncertain.
Epstein Files Bill Quick Looks
- House vote imminent on bipartisan bill to declassify Epstein files
- Measure overcame initial opposition from Trump and House Speaker Johnson
- Trump reversed stance, now supports the bill and promises to sign
- Bill forces DOJ to release all Epstein-related documents within 30 days
- Redactions allowed only for active investigations or victim privacy, not political embarrassment
- Survivors of Epstein’s abuse appearing on Capitol Hill to demand action
- Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva’s swearing-in secured critical 218th petition signature
- House GOP leadership accelerating vote to avoid delay
- Unclear if Senate will pass or modify the bill
- Massie warns Senate against weakening transparency measures
Deep Look
House Poised to Vote on Releasing Jeffrey Epstein Files After Months of Resistance
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Tuesday on a landmark bipartisan bill requiring the Department of Justice to publicly release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose arrest and subsequent death in federal custody continue to raise serious public questions.
This legislative milestone follows months of political wrangling, with initial resistance from both President Donald Trump and House Republican leadership. Despite efforts to block the bill from reaching the floor, growing pressure from lawmakers, survivors, and the public ultimately forced a shift in position. The bill is now widely expected to pass with overwhelming support.
Trump, who once dismissed the push for Epstein disclosures as a “hoax,” has now endorsed the legislation. On Monday, he stated that he would sign the bill into law if it passes both chambers of Congress, telling reporters, “Let the Senate look at it.”
The vote caps off a grassroots-driven campaign that began in July, when a small bipartisan group of lawmakers initiated a discharge petition to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson’s control over the legislative calendar. The petition gained momentum over time, culminating in its success when Rep. Adelita Grijalva, a newly elected Democrat from Arizona, was finally sworn in and provided the decisive 218th signature.
The move marks a defeat for Johnson, who kept the House closed for nearly two months amid a government shutdown and had initially refused to schedule the Epstein files bill for a vote. Despite early efforts to stonewall, Johnson is now facilitating a fast-tracked vote this week under a two-thirds majority procedure, signaling a full surrender to political momentum.
Meanwhile, survivors of Epstein’s abuse plan to appear on Capitol Hill to lend their voices to the cause. They had previously met with lawmakers and demonstrated outside the Capitol in September. Their advocacy, combined with mounting public scrutiny, helped shift the political climate in favor of full disclosure.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, left behind a tangled web of connections to global powerbrokers, political elites, celebrities, and even former presidents. A separate House Oversight Committee investigation has already uncovered thousands of documents from his estate, revealing ties to influential figures from across the political and business spectrum — including Trump himself.
Though Trump claims to have severed ties with Epstein years before his arrest, he initially resisted calls for transparency, stating that the issue could “detract from the great success of the Republican Party.” Nonetheless, as the legislation gained traction, Trump changed course and encouraged Republicans to support the bill.
Representative Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who introduced the legislation alongside Democrat Ro Khanna, noted the shift in tone. “Trump got tired of me winning. He wanted to join,” Massie quipped.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised the bipartisan victory, calling it “a complete and total surrender” from House GOP leaders who had long resisted public pressure. “From the beginning, Democrats made clear that the American people — and especially the survivors — deserve full transparency,” Jeffries said.
The bill mandates that the Justice Department release all Epstein-related case files and communications within 30 days. While the legislation allows redactions for ongoing investigations or to protect victim identities, it explicitly prohibits withholding information due to potential embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity — even if it involves government officials or foreign dignitaries.
Senate action, however, remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has offered limited comment on the legislation and has expressed faith in the Justice Department’s discretion. Yet critics argue that what’s been released so far has largely consisted of already public records.
Speaker Johnson has hinted that he hopes the Senate might amend the bill to expand privacy protections for whistleblowers and victims. But Rep. Massie has cautioned the Senate against watering down the legislation under the guise of amendments. “If it’s anything but a genuine effort to make it better and stronger, it’ll backfire on the senators if they muck it up,” Massie warned.
The bill’s supporters argue that the public deserves to know the full scope of Epstein’s network, especially given his access to high-level political, financial, and social circles before his arrest. The legislation represents a rare moment of bipartisan agreement in a deeply divided Congress, driven by a shared commitment to transparency and accountability.
If the House approves the measure as expected, attention will shift to the Senate, where its fate remains in flux. But with Trump’s backing and growing public demand for answers, pressure is mounting for lawmakers in both chambers to reveal the full truth about Epstein’s crimes — and his connections.
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