US lawmakers in the House of Representatives are expected on Tuesday to advance the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bill that would compel the publication of unclassified government records detailing the investigation into millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This development is widely seen as a significant act of defiance against President Donald Trump, who had previously resisted efforts to make the case files public.
Trump’s Policy Reversal
After weeks of strong resistance, behind-the-scenes pressure, and intense lobbying against releasing the materials, President Trump effectively threw in the towel on Sunday. His reversal came as it became clear that as many as 100 Republicans in Congress were prepared to join Democrats in defying his administration’s opposition.
Trump publicly walked back his opposition in a late Sunday Truth Social post, stating that House Republicans should vote to release the files “because we have nothing to hide.” On Monday, he further added in the Oval Office, “I’m all for it,” when asked about signing the bill into law if it passes the Senate.
However, the rapid change in stance is largely interpreted as a face-saving retreat, forced by a rare revolt from within his own party’s rank-and-file.
The Legislative Maneuver
The House vote was forced by an extraordinary procedural maneuver called a “discharge petition,” signed by all Democrats and four Republicans. This petition allows a bill to be brought directly to the floor for a vote, bypassing leadership who had been battling hard to block it.
The push for the vote exposed rare fissures in support for the President. The White House had escalated efforts to block the vote last week, making last-minute appeals to Republican signatories. The rupture dramatically widened when Trump pulled his endorsement of loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene in a stunning break that she attributed entirely to the debate over the Epstein files.
Key Issues and Controversy
The bill aims to compel the publication of unclassified documents detailing the disgraced financier’s operations and his 2019 death in custody, which was ruled a suicide.
- Transparency and Victims: Lawmakers argue the public deserves answers in a case that involves over 1,000 alleged victims.
- Political Motivation: Pro-Trump activists insist that releasing the files will primarily expose Democrats and other powerful figures long shielded from scrutiny, including Bill Clinton.
- Senate Battle: If the bill clears the House as expected, Democrats plan an aggressive campaign to pressure the Senate to bring it to the floor. Passage in the Senate requires 60 votes, meaning at least 13 Republicans would have to cross over.
Even if the bill passes both chambers, Trump could still veto the measure, which would require an elusive two-thirds override in both the House and the Senate to become law. The move comes as the midterm elections loom, making it politically awkward for Trump to defend vetoing a bill the public overwhelmingly favors.