Senate sends bill to release Epstein files to Trump

"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."

"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. 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 House approved the measure overwhelmingly and the Senate passed it by unanimous consent, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer making the request on the floor. President Trump reversed months of opposition and backed the bill, helping secure broad Republican support; only one GOP lawmaker opposed it. Speaker Mike Johnson urged Senate amendments to better protect victims and whistleblowers. The bill permits the Department of Justice to withhold information that could compromise ongoing federal investigations, and the DOJ could cite Trump’s recent directive to investigate Epstein’s ties to other powerful figures as grounds to delay release.

Read at Axios