The Senate agreed to fast-track a bill releasing the Epstein files on Tuesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump’s signature later this week.
There were no objections when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) brought the measure to the Senate floor, asking that it be passed via unanimous consent “as soon as it comes over from the House.”
Hours earlier, the House resoundingly approved the resolution, with just one lawmaker, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), voting in opposition; however, it has not yet been transmitted to Senate leadership.
Notably, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had pleaded for the legislation to be amended with additional protections for whistleblowers and the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, but the Senate declined to make any changes, marking a swift and unceremonious end to a saga that had gripped the GOP for months.
Trump plans to sign the resolution but had been opposed to the vote for weeks, considering it a Democratic attempt to embarrass him. Republicans similarly questioned why Democrats were forcing the issue now but not under former President Joe Biden.
Republicans ultimately reversed course, however, once it became inevitable the measure would receive a vote. Despite heavy lobbying by the White House, four House Republicans provided the necessary signatures for Democrats to bring the legislation to the floor on Tuesday.
The legislative maneuver in the Senate, which allows bills to pass if no senators object, means there will not be a recorded vote, although Republicans did reject an earlier push by Schumer to pass the Epstein files resolution in September.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Schumer said Republicans only backed the legislation because of the Democratic pressure campaign. When asked why the files were not as much of a priority under Biden, Schumer called their release one of Trump’s campaign promises.
“He promised to get this done. He’s the one who’s backed off on this, period,” Schumer said.
EVERY HOUSE REPUBLICAN, BAR ONE, VOTES TO RELEASE EPSTEIN FILES
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters the same evening that Republicans decided not to amend the resolution, like Johnson requested, in the interest of saving time.
“Our lawyers obviously looked closely at some of the issues and had concluded that the bill, I think, was sufficient to accomplish what needed to be done here, and that is to get the information out there as quickly as possible,” Thune said.
