So why can't the DOJ just release the files? WHy is a senate/house vote needed?
Supposedly the files included sensitive information that required legislative approval for release.
I assume that means names of victims, victim statements on what was done to them, etc.
"The more significant issue now is how a congressional disclosure order
interacts with victim-privacy rules, investigative protections, and long-standing
federal record-release laws."
Then there's the flip-flopping Trump has been doing saying, "The list is on my desk," to "There is no list." This vote takes the decision out of Trump's hands.
The vote could have been held a month or so sooner had the government not been shutdown, or so the House claims.
Anyway, the number of votes for the bill are sufficient to override a veto, so naturally Trump says he plans to sign it.
There's already a conspiracy being started by Epstein's brother that the shutdown gave the administration time to cleanse the information of any high ranking Republicans. There's already accusations before this that Trump broke his promise to release them in order to protect billionaires and other powerful individuals mentioned in the files.
It'll get bumpier from here on out. Better hang on tight!