BILL ON EPSTEIN RECORDS GOES TO TRUMP

President has signaled he will sign measure after reversing stance on the files' release.

- BY ANA CEBALLOS

LISA PHILLIPS, an Epstein abuse survivor, speaks Tuesday at a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol.

(HEATHER DIEHL Getty Images)

The longstanding fight to demand the Justice Department release all documents tied to its investigation into late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shifted to President Trump on Tuesday after the House and Senate, within hours of each other, voted overwhelmingly to publicize the files.

Trump, who tried to thwart the release of the records for several months, reversed course Sunday night and indicated that he plans to sign the measure when it reaches his desk. For that to happen, the Senate and House needed to approve the measure — and on Tuesday that happened with near-unanimous support in both chambers, at the urging of Epstein survivors.

The action, however, did not come without some tension.

Hours before the House vote, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he would support the measure even though he believed it did not do enough to protect the privacy of the victims. Calling the bill "flawed," Johnson then called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (RS.D.) to fix the bill in the upper chamber before sending it to the president's desk.

But amending the bill would have further delayed passage of the measure, prolonging a hugely divisive congressional fight. The Senate ultimately decided to quickly pass the bill without making any changes — or a recorded vote — after a successful procedural maneuver led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

"Epstein victim groups have made clear that they support this bill as written, without amendments," Schumer said. "We should listen to them and pass this bill quickly."

The House vote was 427 to 1, with Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) the only nay vote.