In a stunning late-day move Tuesday, the U.S. Senate agreed unanimously to approve the Houseâs bill demanding the Justice Department release its Jeffrey Epstein files â no delays, no changes, no drama.
The moment the bill arrives from the House, the Senate will deem it passed instantly and send it straight to President Donald Trump.
At 5:18 p.m., Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stepped onto the Senate floor and asked that the bill be approved the moment itâs processed.
No one objected. Zero pushback.
That means no amendments, despite House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders pushing hard for changes.
Johnson later told reporters heâs âdeeply disappointedâ the Senate passed the bill without revisions.
He said Schumer ârushed it to the floorâ before the House even transmitted it.
Still, Trump has already said: âIâm all for it.â
But on his social platform Tuesday, Trump added that he doesnât care when the Senate passes it â tonight or later â and warned Republicans to stay focused on his agenda:
âClosed borders, ending DEI, stopping Bidenâs inflation, historic tax and regulation cuts, rebuilding the military, being respected globally⌠and delivering a HUGE defeat to Democrats on the shutdown.â
A White House official confirmed the bill will be signed as soon as it lands.
Worth noting: Trump didn’t need Congress to act â he couldâve ordered the release himself immediately.
đĽ Capitol Hill Reacts: Cheers, Tears & Hugs
At a vigil on Capitol Hill, House Democrats and Epstein survivors erupted into cheers when they heard the Senate passed the bill unanimously.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez broke the news from the podium â and the room burst into applause, tears, and hugs.
đ What the Bill Actually Forces the DOJ to Release
The bill requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records related to Epstein within 30 days of the bill becoming law.
This includes:
- documents
- communications
- investigative materials
- federal records related to Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and others â including government officials connected in any way to Epsteinâs activities
Protected from release:
- victimsâ names and identifying details
- any materials containing child sexual abuse content
ABC News asked DOJ how it plans to comply. No response yet.
Just Friday, Bondi announced a renewed investigation into Epstein files and potential ties with high-profile Democrats â hours after Trump publicly told her to act.
Sources say itâs unlikely DOJ will release the full files â anything tied to ongoing investigations or executive privilege will remain hidden.
đď¸ Senate Reaction: âWeâre Not Amending This.â
Earlier Tuesday, Sen. John Thune dismissed the idea of changing the bill despite Johnsonâs demands.
âWhen a bill passes the House 427â1 and the president says heâll sign it, changing it doesnât make sense.â
Johnson remained frustrated, saying he wants amendments to âprotect the justice systemâ and will push that message to Senate Republicans.


