In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the US Senate has unanimously approved legislation that will compel the release of investigative files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just hours after the House of Representatives passed the bill with overwhelming support.
Overwhelming Congressional Support
The legislation moved through Congress with remarkable speed, receiving near-unanimous approval in the House of Representatives with a staggering 427-1 vote before the Senate unanimously passed the measure. The bill will now proceed automatically for President Trump's signature once formally forwarded to the Senate.
The development represents a significant bipartisan achievement that the Trump administration had resisted for several months. The Epstein case returned to public prominence in July when the Justice Department and FBI released a memo indicating they had no further information to disclose about their investigation, contradicting earlier administration promises to release additional Epstein-related documents.
Family Presence and Political Implications
The historic vote occurred as Sky and Amanda Roberts, the brother and sister-in-law of the late Virginia Giuffre - one of Epstein's most prominent victims - were photographed in Washington DC ahead of the House decision. Their presence underscored the personal significance of the legislative action for victims' families.
The Epstein scandal continues to resonate powerfully with a substantial portion of President Trump's right-wing base, many of whom embrace various conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein and his network of influential associates. Unlike numerous other political issues, the Epstein files have prompted notable rebellions among Trump's traditional supporters.
Khashoggi Comments and Saudi Relations
In separate developments, President Trump appeared to dismiss the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi during the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's White House visit, remarking that "things happen" when questioned about the killing.
This marked the crown prince's first White House visit since Saudi operatives murdered and dismembered Khashoggi. Despite US intelligence assessments concluding the prince ordered the killing, Trump maintained that "he knew nothing about it" and attacked the ABC News journalist who raised the question.
The meeting yielded claims of potential Saudi investment in the US economy reaching $1 trillion, while Trump confirmed intentions to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Riyadh despite objections from Israel and concerns within US intelligence agencies.
Additional Global Developments
Meanwhile, a comprehensive study published in the Lancet has identified ultra-processed food (UPF) as linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body. The research found that more than half of the average diet in both the US and UK now consists of UPFs, connecting them to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.
In other news, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces allegations of racism and antisemitism during his school years, while Polish authorities have identified two Ukrainian men as key suspects in rail sabotage cases, accusing them of working for Russian intelligence services.
The art world witnessed a major sale as Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer sold for $236.4 million, making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction. The painting, created between 1914 and 1916, was looted by the Nazis but returned to Lederer's brother in 1948.
