The US Congress is preparing to formally pass legislation to force the release of the Epstein files – US Politics Live | American policy

Hello and thank you for joining us on the US Politics Live blog. I’m Vivian Hu and I’ll be bringing you the latest news over the next few hours.

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously agreed to approve legislation that would force the release of investigative files related to the late child abuser. Jeffrey Epstein. The move came just hours after the US House of Representatives voted 427-1 to pass the bipartisan measure. Donald Trump He had been fighting for months.

“The lying to Americans is over. These survivors deserve full transparency. Every document, every fact, every name,” the Republican congresswoman said. Marjorie Taylor Greenea longtime Trump ally who broke with the president over the Epstein files, was posted on X on Tuesday.

The Epstein files scandal has haunted Trump since his return to the White House. For months, the president dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democratic hoax.” Over the weekend, he relented and urged Republican lawmakers to vote for the measure, which many of their constituents had called on to support.

“I don’t care when the Senate approves the House bill, whether tonight or some other time in the near future,” the president wrote. “I don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all the victories we’ve achieved.” On Social Truth Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader, john Thune, He told CNN The bipartisan bill will likely go to Trump’s desk for his signature on Wednesday, after the House formally transmits the bill and the Senate formally approves it. Trump told reporters on Monday that he would sign the bill.

Congressman Ro betrayed usa Democrat who sponsored the bill alongside a Republican congressman Thomas Massey, Published on X That Trump “should have the survivors who made this possible when he signed the bill.”

“Despite all odds, the survivors continued to fight,” Khanna said He said. “This victory is theirs.”

In other developments:

• The backlash has begun over the Epstein files, some of which have already been made public by House members: The New York Times said it would sever ties with former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers after documents revealed that Summers maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the disgraced financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.

• Trump is scheduled to speak at a US-Saudi forum focused on investment on Wednesday. After a visit to the White House on Tuesday by the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said that the United States and Saudi Arabia have concluded a security agreement that will facilitate arms transfers between the two countries and elevate Saudi Arabia to a “major non-NATO ally.” Politico reports.

• This came after Trump ignored a reporter’s questions about US intelligence’s assessment that the prince approved the 2018 killing. Jamal Khashoggia US green card holder and columnist for The Washington Post. Marty BaronThe former executive editor of The Washington Post called Trump’s comments a “disgrace.” “Things happen,” he said. In fact, someone is the one who made it happen. That was the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated, and then he and his government lied about what happened.”

• Federal judges are scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday afternoon to determine a request for a preliminary injunction in two consolidated challenges to North Carolina’s congressional map, which was redrawn with the goal of adding more Republicans to Congress. On Tuesday, a panel of federal judges to rule That Texas cannot use the 2025 congressional maps, which added five Republican districts, for the 2026 midterm elections and must use the 2021 boundaries. “Substantial evidence shows that the State of Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map,” Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote.

• Finds a new Marquette Law School survey More people prefer Democrats than Republicans in the expected vote for Congress in 2026.