The Senate unanimously passed a bill to compel the Justice Department to release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sending it to President Trump’s desk, late yesterday afternoon.

Finally, the “release the files” harpies will pipe down. Maybe…

The bill sailed through the House 427-1, and the Senate passed it unanimously. The one holdout? Clay Higgins (R-LA), on due process grounds.

I have been a principled ‘NO’ on this bill from the beginning. What was wrong with the bill three months ago is still wrong today. It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America. As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people – witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt. Not by my vote. The Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough investigation that has already released well over 60,000 pages of documents from the Epstein case. That effort will continue in a manner that provides all due protections for innocent Americans. If the Senate amends the bill to properly address privacy of victims and other Americans, who are named but not criminally implicated, then I will vote for that bill when it comes back to the House.”-Clay Higgins (R-LA)

Still, the files may not be released immediately. The recent directive of DOJ to investigate Epstein’s ties to former President Bill Clinton, officials at JP Morgan Chase and others may take some time to come to light. Then there’s the goat rope with Ms. Plaskett and Epstein that our Toni highlighted yesterday. The circus continues. Pass the popcorn.

There was the House Freedom Caucus-led bid to strip Placket of the House Democratic Caucus of her role on the high-profile committee after her ties to Jeffrey Epstein were revealed earlier this month that ultimately failed on Tuesday night.

The censure had also included language to remove Plaskett from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees entities like the FBI and CIA and regularly receives classified briefings on matters of national security.

The House of Representatives has a responsibility and a duty to protect the integrity of this institution. And what we learn from the documents released by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate is nothing short of alarming.

Those documents show that Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a sitting member of Congress, coordinated her questioning during an Oversight — an official Oversight hearing, with a man who was a convicted sex offender, a man whose crimes against minors shocked this entire nation.”-Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C

And, how can we forget Chuck Schumer?

We need to make sure all the documents are released. We’ll do everything we can to make sure all of it comes to light.”-Chuck Schumer

(Ahem) And how much money in donations did you receive from Mr. Epstein, Chuck?

Then, there is “Brooklyn Barack”, AKA Hakeem Jeffries:

Democrat fundraisers invited Epstein to attend an event, or meet privately with Hakeem Jeffries as part of their 2013 effort to win a majority.

So, Hakeem Jeffries’ campaign solicited money from Jeffrey Epstein. That’s what we found in the last document batch.” -House Oversight Committee Chairman, James Comer (R-Ky).

Quite the “impressive guy”. A “voice for New York for years to come”.

The invite was sent after Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution from a minor in Florida in 2008. After the solicitation and prostitution of a minor. Hey, money talks and pedophiles walk. At least until a Republican President the left hates ends up back in The White House and then they shriek “rElEaSe ThE fIlEs!”

Now, who’s covering up? Hakeem Jeffries said it was “not a hoax” that they were voting to release the Epstein files. Nope, Hakeem. Not a “hoax” at all. Just lots of political theater.

Be careful what you wish for, Dems.

Featured image: Jeffrey Epstein mugshot (screenshot via CBS This Morning on YouTube)