Will Epstein Files Be Released? What Happens Now After Vote Passes Senate.

Both the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly on 18th November 23:15 Hours (IST) facilitating the Justice Department in publicly releasing the files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a striking show of bipartisan support for a measure that had stalled for months amid resistance from President Donald Trump and Republican leaders.

Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein had committed suicide in a New York federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking. There have long been rumours of an Epstein “client list”, though it has never been made public. After President Donald Trump indicated on his presidential campaign trail that he would support the release of documents related to Epstein, he and his administration have faced bipartisan criticism for not following through.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced a petition earlier this year to compel their release. But it was stalled for months until the swearing in of Representative Adelita Grijlava, who last week became the 218th signatory, forcing a House vote on the files.

The vote was passed by 427-1 on 18th November, 2025 with only Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana voting against. No Senate Republicans blocked an effort to force a vote on a resolution seeking to compel the release of documents and files related to Epstein. In addition, the House bill will not be amended by the Senate.

Once the House formally transmits the bill to the Senate, it will move directly to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told journalists that the Department Of Justice (DOJ) could still assert legal privileges over the files.

“Regardless of whether Trump signs it into law or Congress overrides his veto, the DOJ can still assert those privileges”, he said. “There may be a fight that the courts will have to sort through. It’s not necessarily going to be the law is passed and the DOJ just turns over the files”,

The DOJ could argue for law enforcement privilege, deliberative process privilege, or executive privilege to block the release of the filings, Rahmani said. That process could take months or even more than a year if it goes to the Supreme Court.  Only two categories would have to be redacted, Rahmani said. Anything related to grand jury materials or to the protection of victim’s personal information must be redacted. Any other information being redacted would be considered “improper”. he said.

Former federal prosecutor Shanlon Wu told journalists that he believes the DOJ will “begin to delay and limit release using the reason that they are now conducting an ‘active investigation’ so full release might compromise their investigation“.

Shanlon Wu further stated, “If the above delay commences, then there is no easy way to predict how long it will take, nor what will be released as DOJ and Trump can tie it up on courts for maybe the entire Trump term of office. While it may appear that the new investigation seems bogus and unjustified, that will not inhibit the DOJ from potentially limiting and refusing to release files“.

House Democrats released a trove of Epstein emails last week from 2011, 2015 and 2019. The emails were sent between Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and journalist Michael Wolff. In a 2011 email, Epstein referred to Trump as a “dog that hasn’t barked”, and said that a victim spent “hours at my house with him”.

In a December 2015 email, Epstein and Wolff discussed how Trump should answer questions about their relationship. In January 2019, Epstein mentioned Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, and that Trump “said he asked me to resign, never a member ever”. He also wrote, “of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop”.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the emails “prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong”. The Secretary had reiterated, “What President Trump has always said is that he was from Palm Beach, and so was Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar-a-Lago until President Trump kicked him out, because Jeffrey Epstein was a paedophile and he was a creep”.

The Epstein files contain documents and records from investigations into Epstein. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case. He is mentioned in some documents related to Epstein, but not in ways that would implicate him in any crimes. The two were friends for a period, but Trump has said he kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago because of Epstein’s activities.

Former federal prosecutor Shanlon Wu told reporters: “Trump could have ordered his DOJ to release the files the day he took office and could still do so now. Delaying and fighting release until there now appears to be likely majority in Congress to pass a vote on release has simply been one more delay tactic, and there is likely more delay ahead. It would be great if there was no further delay but I am not optimistic about a speedy and complete release”.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, warned the Senate not to impasse the vote on Tuesday: “If you want to add some additional protections for these survivors, go for it. But if you do anything that prevents any disclosure, you are not for the people and you are not part of this effort”.

Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, wrote on X: “The President has said he will sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act that I introduced & @RepThomasMassie led the discharge petition. The Swamp is trying to get it amended in the Senate. Anyone who tried to amend a bill POTUS says he will sign is betraying the survivors”.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote on X: “Today, the Epstein discharge petition is finally getting a vote. Standing with these women at the press conference, survivors who have endured years of fear, intimidation, and pressure, reminded me exactly why this fight matters”.

Team Maverick