Bipartisan Victory for Transparency
In a rare display of unity, both chambers of the US Congress have overwhelmingly approved legislation that will force the disclosure of investigative files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate gave its unanimous consent to the measure on Tuesday, mere hours after the House of Representatives passed it with an astonishing 427-1 vote.
The bipartisan bill represents a significant victory for survivors and transparency advocates who have been demanding full disclosure of documents related to Epstein's extensive network. Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a longtime Trump ally who nevertheless split from the president over this issue, celebrated the move on social media platform X.
"Americans are done being lied to. These survivors deserve full transparency. Every document, every truth, every name," Greene posted, capturing the sentiment that has driven the push for disclosure.
Political Reversal and Legislative Process
The legislation's passage marks a notable reversal for President Trump, who had been fighting the measure for months. The Epstein files scandal has consistently dogged the president since his return to the White House, with Trump frequently dismissing the uproar over the government's handling of the case as a "Democrat hoax."
However, over the weekend, the president dramatically shifted his position, urging Republican lawmakers to support the bill that many of their constituents had been demanding. Despite this change of heart, Trump attempted to downplay the significance of the timing, posting on Truth Social that he didn't care when the Senate passed the bill "as long as Republicans don't take their eyes off all of the victories that we've had."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed to CNN that the bill will likely reach Trump's desk for signing on Wednesday, following the House's formal transmission of the legislation and the Senate's official approval. The president had already told reporters on Monday that he would sign the bill when it reached him.
Immediate Consequences and Broader Implications
The legislation's impact is already being felt beyond the political sphere. Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat who co-sponsored the bill alongside Republican Thomas Massie, suggested that Trump should invite the survivors who fought for transparency to the bill signing ceremony.
"Against all odds, the survivors kept fighting," Khanna posted on X. "This victory is theirs."
Meanwhile, backlash from partially released Epstein documents has already begun. The New York Times announced it will sever ties with former treasury secretary Larry Summers after documents revealed he maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.
In related political developments, President Trump is scheduled to speak at a US-Saudi investment forum on Wednesday, following a White House meeting with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders announced a new security agreement that would ease weapons transfers and elevate Saudi Arabia to "major non-Nato ally" status, according to Politico.
Trump notably brushed off questions about a US intelligence assessment that the crown prince had approved the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, drawing criticism from Marty Baron, the newspaper's former executive editor, who called the president's remarks "a disgrace."
