The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill to compel the Justice Department to release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sending it to President Trump's desk.
Why it matters: Trump said Monday he would sign the bill, but the files still may not be released any time soon.
- The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent Tuesday evening, just hours after it cleared the House via a nearly unanimous vote — and before the bill had even technically been sent over.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) made the unanimous consent request on the chamber floor on Tuesday.
Driving the news: In a stunning reversal, Trump this week supported the legislation after opposing the effort for months.
- But his recent directive of DOJ to investigate Epstein's ties to former President Bill Clinton, officials at JP Morgan Chase and others may cause the files to never see the light of day.
The big picture: Trump's blessing of the Epstein bill helped secure widespread Republican support for the measure in Congress. Just one GOP lawmaker — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) — opposed it.
- Democrats argue Trump only decided to throw his support behind the measure to save face once it was clear the bill would pass — and that move made GOP opposition virtually untenable.
- The Senate passed the legislation via unanimous consent, which requires the green light from all 100 senators.
- The quick Senate passage comes after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that the bill needed to be amended in the Senate to better protect victims and whistleblowers.
What's next: The measure will land on Trump's desk as early as Tuesday — but don't expect to see the release of the Epstein files right away.
- The bill allows DOJ to withhold information that could interfere with an ongoing federal investigation, meaning Trump's recent demand that the DOJ investigate Epstein's ties to other powerful figures could halt the process.
- DOJ could argue that releasing the files now would compromise that investigation.
Go deeper: What needs to happen next for the Epstein files to be released
Editor's note; This story has been updated with additional reporting.
