Topline
The House passed legislation Tuesday that would force the Justice Department to publicly release documents related to its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein—marking a pivotal moment in the saga over the files that has caused rebellion among some of President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend de Grisogono Sponsors The 2005 Wall Street Concert Series Benefitting Wall Street Rising, with a Performance by Rod Stewart at Cipriani Wall Street on March 15, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Key Facts
The House voted 427-1 to approve the legislation, with only one Republican, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., voting against the bill.
The Senate is expected to vote as soon as Tuesday evening on the legislation, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said shortly after the House vote, dismissing the possibility that the Senate could amend the legislation and send it back to the House.
Trump said Monday, as it became clear the measure was likely to pass with significant Republican support, he would sign the bill into law, marking an about-face on the issue his administration has repeatedly sought to kill.
The legislation would require federal law enforcement agencies to release all documents related to its investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of the bill becoming law.
Flight logs, the agency’s internal communications about the probe, the identities of others connected to it and records pertaining to his detention and death would be subject to the new law.
Tangent
Underscoring the magnitude of the rift the files have caused between Trump and some in his MAGA base, he said Friday he no longer supports Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration for refusing to release the documents. “Of course he’s coming after me hard to make an example to scare all the other Republicans before next weeks vote to release the Epstein files,” Greene wrote on X, firing back at Trump after he called her “wacky” and said he would support a primary challenge against her.