US Congress Poised to Pass Legislation Mandating Release of Epstein Files – Live Updates on US Politics

The Senate unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday requiring the release of investigative files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. This decision followed a strong bipartisan vote of 427-1 in the House of Representatives, highlighting significant political strategy around this issue. Donald Trump, who has been advocating for this measure for months, expressed his support as well.

“Americans are done being lied to. These survivors deserve full transparency. Every document, every truth, every name,” said Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally who had previously distanced herself from him over the Epstein files, on X.

The controversy surrounding the Epstein files has loomed over Trump since his political resurgence. For months, he dismissed concerns about the government’s management of the Epstein case, labeling the uproar a “Democrat hoax.” Recently, he urged Republican lawmakers to support the measure, aligning with public opinion advocating for transparency.

“I don’t care when the Senate passes the House Bill, whether tonight or at some other time in the near future, I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off the victories we’ve had,” Trump conveyed on social media.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed that the bipartisan bill is set to be transmitted to Trump for signing on Wednesday, following official approval from the Senate.

Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat who sponsored the bill alongside Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, emphasized that the signing ceremony should honor the survivors who fought for this change. “Against all odds, the survivors kept fighting. This victory is theirs,” Khanna remarked.

Further Developments

• In the wake of the Epstein files, the New York Times announced it would sever ties with former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, after documents revealed he maintained a relationship with Epstein long after Epstein’s guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

• Trump is scheduled to attend a U.S.-Saudi investment forum on Wednesday, following a visit from Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman. The two nations have reportedly entered a security agreement aimed at easing weapons transfers and elevating Saudi Arabia’s status to a “major non-NATO ally.”

• This comes amid scrutiny over Trump’s remarks dismissing U.S. intelligence indicating that bin Salman had approved the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron criticized Trump’s comments as “a disgrace.”

• Federal judges are set to hear arguments concerning North Carolina’s congressional map, which was redrawn to favor Republican candidates. A recent ruling determined that Texas must revert to 2021 congressional boundaries for the upcoming elections, amidst allegations of racial gerrymandering.

• A recent Marquette Law School survey indicates increasing support for Democrats in anticipation of the 2026 congressional elections, reflecting shifting public opinion.