Senate unanimously agrees to pass Epstein File Transparency Act
The U.S. Senate unanimously agreed to pass the Epstein File Transparency Act and sent the bill to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
After the House and Senate overwhelmingly agreed to pass a bill requiring the Justice Department to release information about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, questions remain about when the files will be made available to the public.
Of those who voted for the bill, all Democrats and nearly all Republicans chose to pass it in separate votes in the House and Senate on Tuesday, November 18th.
The bill is now in the hands of President Donald Trump, who has previously indicated he would sign it once it reaches his desk. However, even if signed into law, the release of the files could be delayed.
Here’s what you need to know:
When will President Trump sign the Epstein Files bill?
It’s unclear exactly when President Trump will sign the bill.
But in the days leading up to the bill’s vote, the president said he would sign it into law.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide. It’s time to move on from this Democratic hoax perpetrated by radical left-wing lunatics to distract from the Republican Party’s great success,” he wrote on Nov. 16.
Under the Constitution, if a bill passes both houses of Congress, the president has 10 days to sign it or veto it.
When will the Epstein files be released?
If signed into law, the Epstein bill would force the Justice Department to release files related to sex offenders. But when that will happen is unclear.
Under Epstein’s bill, the Justice Department would be able to withhold “documents that could jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution” if such withholding would be limited and temporary.
Days before calling on House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files, President Trump ordered the Justice Department to launch an investigation into Democrats with ties to Epstein. Therefore, President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi may choose not to release some documents as part of provisions protecting federal investigations.
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
Contributor: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
