Congress Approves Epstein Files Release: Trump Reverses Position on Controversial Documents

US lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to release government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw his opposition to making these documents public.

The controversy surrounds a scandal that has sent shockwaves through political circles, law enforcement agencies, and America's elite society. Trump had initially pressured congressional allies to block the release, but ultimately conceded as it became evident that many within his own party were prepared to vote against his wishes.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act received near-unanimous approval from Congress, mandating the publication of unclassified documents detailing both the investigation into the disgraced financier's operations and his death in custody, which investigators determined was suicide.

Legislators argue that the public deserves complete transparency in a case involving more than 1,000 alleged victims. While Trump suggests the files will expose connections between powerful Democrats and Epstein, the president himself faces scrutiny over his long-standing relationship with the man accused of providing underage girls to wealthy and influential individuals.

The bill sailed through the House with just a single dissenting vote out of 428 members. The Senate agreed to expedite the process, sending the legislation directly to the White House without conducting a formal count.

Though Trump has promised not to veto the bill, observers don't anticipate immediate revelations of significant new information. The Justice Department maintains broad authority to withhold information that "would jeopardize an active federal investigation."

Trump sparked controversy last week by directing officials to investigate Epstein's connections to prominent Democrats. This saga has revealed rare divisions in support for the Republican leader, who initially campaigned on releasing the files but reversed course after taking office, accusing Democrats of promoting what he called a "hoax."

After Republican leadership made multiple attempts to prevent the vote, all Democratic representatives and four Republicans signed a "discharge petition" – an exceptional measure forcing the bill to the House floor against leadership's wishes.

Abandoning his previous resistance, Trump announced on social media that Republicans should support releasing the files because "we have nothing to hide." When speaking to reporters at an Oval Office event with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump insisted, "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert."

Nevertheless, Trump's relationship with Epstein is well-documented. Epstein was known for hosting parties and providing networking opportunities for wealthy and powerful individuals.

This reversal represents a rare instance where resistance from Trump's allies has forced him to change position. Epstein survivors questioned the president's motivations during a news conference before the vote, with Haley Robson, who was recruited to massage Epstein when she was 16, expressing skepticism: "I can't help to be skeptical of what the agenda is. I am traumatized – I am not stupid."

At the time of his death, Epstein faced federal charges related to an alleged sex trafficking operation targeting underage girls and young women, following his 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.

For years, Trump's right-wing supporters were encouraged to believe the government was concealing a major conspiracy. However, Trump's Justice Department stated in July that officials had completed an "exhaustive review" of the case and found "no basis to revisit the disclosure" of any Epstein materials.

The White House intensified efforts last week to prevent the vote, with Trump and his allies making last-minute appeals to two Republican signatories of the discharge petition, causing significant backlash among Trump's base.

The rift widened when Trump withdrew his endorsement of loyal supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene in a stunning break that she attributed directly to "the Epstein files." Greene raised a crucial question: "The real test will be, will the Department of Justice release the files? Or will it all remain tied up in investigations?"