Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill on the 18th, local time, mandating the Department of Justice to release all documents related to the sex crimes committed by the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
According to U.S. media reports, Epstein had close ties with numerous prominent figures in American politics and business. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to soliciting minors into prostitution and served 13 months in prison. In 2019, he was arrested again on suspicion of sex crimes but refused to plead guilty. He died in prison that same year without trial, and his death was ruled a suicide.
In the House vote, 427 votes were in favor and 1 vote was against. The only dissenting vote came from Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana. Subsequently, the entire Senate expressed support for the bill, and as per regulations, no further vote was required; the bill passed the Senate.
The bill requires the Department of Justice to release all documents and communications related to the Epstein case within 30 days, including information regarding the investigation into his death in federal prison.
US President Donald Trump, who had opposed releasing Epstein documents for months, changed his tune on the 16th, urging Republicans to vote on a bill to release the documents and stating that he would sign it into law if it passed both houses of Congress.
Trump had previously stated that he had been close to Epstein but had severed ties with him over a decade ago and knew nothing about his sexual misconduct. (End)
