The Senate is set to receive the House-passed version of the Jeffrey Epstein files legislation and is expected to pass it along to President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate unanimously agreed to approve the bill that the House had passed earlier that same day. Once the bill arrives from the House, it will be immediately deemed passed by the Senate, indicating a strong bipartisan consensus.
The unanimous action by the Senate ensures that there will be no amendments or changes to the legislation, as urged by House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican leadership team. This measure mandates Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein held by the Department of Justice within 30 days of the bill's enactment.
If signed into law, this legislation could lead to the release of vital federal records concerning Epstein, his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and other individuals mentioned in connection with Epstein's criminal activities, civil settlements, plea agreements, or investigatory proceedings. Importantly, the text of the bill specifies that victims' names and any identifying information will be excluded from public disclosure, along with any materials that may depict or contain child sex abuse material.
ABC News has yet to receive a response from the Justice Department regarding how it plans to comply with the bill once it is signed by Trump. On Friday, Bondi announced that the Justice Department is initiating a renewed investigation into the files and possible connections between high-profile Democrats and Epstein. This announcement came just hours after Trump directed her to do so via his Truth Social account.
It remains uncertain whether the DOJ will cite this announcement as a reason to withhold much of the files from public disclosure, despite earlier statements from the DOJ and FBI indicating that their review uncovered no evidence warranting an investigation against any uncharged individuals. Sources suggest it is unlikely that the Justice Department will release the entire Epstein file, as materials pertaining to ongoing investigations or claims of executive privilege will likely remain undisclosed.
Trump has expressed his willingness to sign the bill when it reaches his desk, stating, "I'm all for it." However, in a post on his social media platform, he mentioned that the timing of the Senate's passage of the House Bill is not a concern for him, emphasizing the need for Republicans to maintain focus on his broader agenda. He pointed out significant achievements, including closing borders, addressing inflation, and military rebuilding.
At a vigil on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon, a group of House Democrats and Epstein survivors erupted in cheers upon learning of the Senate's unanimous approval of the bill. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez announced the news from the podium, prompting emotional reactions from the survivors, who were seen hugging and celebrating the progress.
Contributions to this report were made by ABC News' John Parkinson, Lauren Peller, Rebecca Gelpi, Michelle Stoddart, and Alex Mallin.