U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota speaks with reporters outside his office on the 41st day of the federal government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Nov. 10, 2025.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
A bill that would force the Justice Department to release files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein officially passed both houses of Congress Wednesday and was sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The bipartisan bill, approved by the House on Tuesday, was immediately passed when sent to the Senate on Wednesday morning.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York secured unanimous agreement, allowing the bill to pass the Senate as soon as it is accepted.
President Trump announced Monday that he would sign a bill that would make all unclassified Justice Department records about Epstein and his convicted co-defendant Ghislaine Maxwell public.
It’s unclear exactly when President Trump will sign the bill. A senior White House official told NBC News Wednesday morning that the president plans to consider the bill once it is received.
The bill received overwhelming support in the House, with all but one Republican, Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, voting yes on Tuesday.
President Trump on Sunday night urged his Republican allies to support the bill, a major shift in stance that reflects the bill’s growing momentum in Congress.
But the president remained angry about the focus on Epstein, calling it a “hoax” pushed by Democrats to distract from the administration’s accomplishments.
He has repeatedly lashed out when asked about his relationship with the late financier, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein were friends, but the two had a falling out several years before Mr. Trump’s death.
On Tuesday, when an ABC News reporter asked why she didn’t release the Epstein files herself, President Trump insulted her and demanded that ABC’s broadcast license be revoked.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
