After months of fierce Republican infighting and White House resistance, Congress forces sweeping disclosure of government-held Epstein records—opening a new chapter in a scandal that has fractured the GOP base.
The Senate cleared the legislation by unanimous consent, meaning every senator agreed to advance it without a formal roll call vote—an unmistakable sign of bipartisan urgency and public pressure.
“A Victory for Victims and Transparency”
“The American people have been crying out for transparency,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough.”
The swift action marks the culmination of a months-long battle between congressional Republicans, the White House, and a conservative base increasingly outraged at what they view as government secrecy surrounding Epstein and his network.
A GOP Civil War Brought Out Into the Open
At the center of the push was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who forced a House vote despite strong resistance from GOP leadership and Trump allies.
“We have a chance today to make something happen that should have happened decades ago,” Massie said. “I am embarrassed for my own party.”
Only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.)—a staunch Trump loyalist—voted against it, citing concerns about privacy protections. Victims of Epstein, seated in the House gallery, erupted in applause as the vote closed.
Trump’s Sudden Reversal Shifted the Entire Trajectory
Until 48 hours before the vote, the White House had waged a full-scale campaign to kill the bill. Trump personally pressured Republican holdouts, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace, to withdraw their support.
Boebert was even summoned to the White House Situation Room, according to multiple lawmakers.
But after weeks of public backlash—and concerns that the fight was overshadowing his message on inflation—Trump abruptly reversed course over the weekend, urging Republicans to pass the bill and vowing to sign it.
The shift caught GOP leaders flat-footed. Within hours, the political dam broke.
Growing Tensions and a Fractured MAGA Movement
The internal Republican divisions spilled into public view.
“This has been one of the most destructive things to the movement,” she said. “Watching this turn into a fight has been devastating.”
Mace, visibly emotional, called the vote “a symbolic victory for every survivor who has never seen justice.”
Why the Pressure Built So Quickly
The conflict traces back to a July Justice Department memo stating it would not release further Epstein information—sparking outrage across the political spectrum.
Democrats seized the moment, pushing subpoenas and arguing that Trump was shielding damaging material. The move triggered a bipartisan Oversight probe—and political panic within the GOP as the issue grew more toxic.
Emails released from Epstein’s estate, including his infamous “birthday book,” contained materials embarrassing to the president, fueling further scrutiny.
Although Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and no evidence has linked him to Epstein’s crimes, Democrats have relentlessly highlighted their past relationship.
What the Bill Actually Does
Massie’s bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), requires the Justice Department to release:
- Nonclassified investigative files
- Correspondence related to the federal Epstein case
- Materials and notes from the original DOJ inquiry
DOJ must release the documents within 30 days of enactment.
However, Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) voiced skepticism that the bill would force major new disclosures, saying DOJ has “already turned over what they’re legally allowed to turn over.”
A Rapid Senate Vote to End the Political Fallout
Earlier this month, Senate leadership downplayed the chances the bill would even reach the floor, with Republicans hoping to bury it quietly. But once Trump flipped, Senate leaders moved immediately, with Minority Whip John Thune predicting a fast resolution.
No amendments were adopted—avoiding any delay that would require the bill to return to the House.
The Final Move
With congressional action completed, the bill now awaits President Trump’s signature—an extraordinary turnaround for an administration that had spent months opposing it.
If Trump signs the measure, the Justice Department could be forced to reveal significant new information about one of the most politically explosive scandals in modern American history.
Whether those disclosures will answer long-standing public questions—or deepen them—remains to be seen.
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-- By Michele Robinson
Jasmine Thomas contributed to this report.
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