US Senate Unanimously Passes Landmark Bill Forcing Full Epstein Files Release

The US Senate has passed a bill to force the public release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This happened on Tuesday by unanimous consent. The legislation now goes to President Donald Trump for his final approval.

The move follows an overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives. It brings the public one step closer to unprecedented transparency in the long-running case.

Swift Senate Action Follows House Vote

The Senate passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act without a formal vote. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested the unanimous consent procedure. No senator objected to the move.

According to AFP, this meant the bill was passed without debate. The legislation was sent directly to the President’s desk. The House had earlier passed the bill with a massive 247-1 majority.

Lone Dissenter and Broader Implications

Only Representative Clay Higgins voted against the bill in the House. He argued the release would harm innocent people. Higgins stated the bill abandons established criminal justice procedures.

He explained his position in a post on X. He said a broad reveal of files would injure witnesses and family members. He pledged support only if the Senate added amendments to protect privacy.

Schumer emphasized the need for transparency on the Senate floor. He said the American people and Epstein’s victims have waited long enough. The BBC reported his statement that it was time for the truth to come out.

The unanimous passage signals a powerful, bipartisan demand for transparency, pushing the long-awaited Epstein files release to the final stage of presidential approval.

Info at your fingertips

What does the Epstein Files Transparency Act do?

It mandates the public release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. These files are currently under seal. The goal is to provide full transparency to the public.

Who voted against the bill?

Only Representative Clay Higgins voted no in the House. The Senate passed it unanimously without any objections. Higgins expressed concerns about harming innocent people named in the files.

What happens to the bill now?

The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. He has previously pledged to sign it into law. Once signed, the release of the files will be forced by law.

Why was the Senate vote so quick?

The Senate used a unanimous consent procedure. This allows for passage without a formal roll-call vote if no senator objects. It expedites the process for non-controversial legislation.

What was Clay Higgins’s main concern?

He argued the bill would reveal names of innocent witnesses and family members. He believes this could cause them significant harm. He wanted privacy protections added for those not criminally implicated.

Trusted Sources

Associated Press, Reuters, BBC News, AFP