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Indian American lawmakers welcome passage of Epstein bill
The legislation, co-authored by Representative Ro Khanna, now heads to President Donald Trump for final approval.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 19, Nov 2025
- 12:43 EST
- 29
Top (L-R) Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Ami Bera (Bottom L- R) Pramila Jayapal, Suhas Subramanyam / File Photo
Indian American lawmakers welcomed the overwhelming bipartisan passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which cleared the House of Representatives by a 427–1 vote on Nov. 18 before moving swiftly through the Senate.
The legislation, co-authored by Representative Ro Khanna, now heads to President Donald Trump for final approval and would require federal agencies to release all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Also Read: US Congress approves release of Epstein files, putting matter before Trump
Representative Khanna said the measure aims to break years of opaque handling of Epstein-related documents and ensure accountability.
“This fight isn’t about politics—it’s about humanity. It’s about justice for the courageous survivors and taking on the Epstein class who have been shielded for too long,” he said, calling the bill’s passage “a step toward changing our rotten system” and urging “a full release of the Epstein files.”
Representative Suhas Subramanyam, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, said the vote should not have been necessary, pointing out that the committee had already subpoenaed the records.
“While we already have the files released by the Epstein Estate, the FBI and DOJ are sitting on tens of thousands more,” he said. “The brave survivors, and the American people, deserve the truth.”
Other Indian American lawmakers reinforced the call for immediate disclosure.
Representative Ami Bera wrote that “the House and Senate have clearly spoken: the Epstein files must be released,” urging the president to act without delay.
The House and Senate have clearly spoken: the Epstein files must be released.
— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) November 18, 2025
No more excuses. No more delays.
President Trump: release the files. https://t.co/qnzYFHzFRk
Representative Pramila Jayapal, who was standing with survivors when the Senate vote was announced, said the measure now places responsibility on the White House and that lawmakers would “keep fighting for justice, accountability, and the truth.”
This evening, as I stood with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, we all learned together that the Senate had passed legislation to release the full Epstein Files.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) November 18, 2025
Now the legislation heads to Trump’s desk. We will keep fighting for justice, accountability, and the truth. pic.twitter.com/Xv943GnO4O
The legislation’s passage follows years of pressure from survivors, transparency advocates and members of Congress who argued that key records concerning Epstein’s network of associates, travel history and prior investigations had been withheld or released only in limited form.
Although some documents were made public through the Epstein Estate and civil proceedings, lawmakers said major federal repositories of information remain unreleased, including materials held by the FBI and the Department of Justice. The bill seeks to compel systematic disclosure, with narrow exceptions for ongoing investigations and victim protection.
President Trump, who had previously resisted efforts to force disclosure, is expected to receive the legislation in the coming days. If signed, the law would require agencies to release the records on a public platform, opening a new phase in the long-running scrutiny of the Epstein case.
The near-unanimous vote in both chambers reflects one of the strongest bipartisan pushes for transparency in recent years, though concerns remain about how quickly and completely the executive branch will comply once the bill becomes law.
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