The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly (427-1) passed a resolution demanding the release of all unclassified Justice Department records on deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The vote comes after a sudden reversal by President Donald Trump, who had previously blocked the release.

Dozens of Epstein's victims joined the motion before Capitol Hill, demanding transparency. They held up photos from their childhoods - from the days when Epstein allegedly abused them.

The financier died in prison in 2019 under suspicious circumstances, prompting the spread of conspiracy theories.

Trump, whose administration has faced allegations of covering up details of the case, while no longer defending the proposal, remains irritated by the media coverage of the topic. He called the journalist who questioned Epstein about the case in the Oval Office a "horrible person" and suggested the TV station's license be revoked.

The resolution now heads to the Senate, where a decision will be made on how to proceed in publishing Epstein's writings. The communication with the delinquent was also confirmed by the Slovak ex-Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak.

He paid the price in the dossier probe

Meanwhile, the president's approval rate has dropped to 38 percent, the lowest since his return to the White House, according to a fresh Reuters/Ipsos poll. Trump began his second term with a thumbs-up from 47 percent of Americans.

While his predecessor Joe Biden's popularity fell to 35 percent, Trump's fell two percent lower in his first term from 2017 to 2021.

Crucially, the way he is approaching the Jeffrey Epstein case is behind the current decline. Only one in five Americans, including just 44 per cent of Republicans, approve of his actions. Some 70 percent of survey respondents - more Democrats than Republicans - believe the government is hiding information about Epstein's clients.

Republicans retain confidence for the economy

Respondents aren't happy with the rising cost of living, either. Just over a quarter think the president will do a good job of managing the cost of living, down from 29 percent earlier this month.

The pace of inflation has remained high by historical standards since Trump took office in January, with consumer prices in the United States rising three per cent in the 12 months to September, despite a weakening labour market. Some 65 per cent of respondents (including one in three Republicans) disapprove of Trump's activity in this area.

His declining popularity could make Republicans more vulnerable in next year's congressional elections, according to the agency, although the poll confirmed that voters continue to view the Republican Party as the party with the better approach to economic policy.

The four-day poll, which ended Monday, surveyed 1,017 American adults from across the country.

(reuters, max)