The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at making public the documents related to the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The Epstein Files Transparency Act passed with overwhelming support, receiving a vote of 427-1. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where Republican leaders have expressed a desire to amend it.

If enacted, the bill would require the U.S. Department of Justice to release all unclassified documents pertaining to its investigation and prosecution of Epstein. This legislative action comes after President Donald Trump, who had previously opposed the bill, shifted his stance and encouraged Republican members to support it.

The vote followed a public display of support from about two dozen survivors of Epstein's alleged abuse, who gathered outside the Capitol with lawmakers from both parties. They held photographs of themselves as children, the age at which they first encountered Epstein, a financier known for his connections to powerful individuals.

Many supporters of Trump have voiced concerns that his administration has not adequately addressed Epstein's connections to influential figures and have questioned the circumstances surrounding his death in a Manhattan jail in 2019, which was ruled a suicide by the city’s medical examiner.

Jena-Lisa Jones, a survivor who claims Epstein abused her at age 14, criticized Trump’s previous opposition to the bill. "Please stop making this political, it is not about you, President Trump," she stated at a press conference. "I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment."

Despite his earlier resistance, Trump has begun to label the Epstein issue as a "Democratic hoax," even as some Republicans have been vocal advocates for the release of the investigation records.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who spearheaded the bill, emphasized the need for transparency, saying, "It's time to pull the Band-Aid off."

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna suggested that Trump should invite the survivors to the signing ceremony of the resolution if it passes in the Senate. The ongoing debate over the Epstein files has highlighted divisions within the Republican Party, particularly between Trump and some of his staunchest supporters.