A bill to force the US Justice Department to divulge all documents related to its investigation into convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been passed by the US Congress.

 The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill on Tuesday, and the Senate agreed to pass it as soon as it arrived. The bill calls for the files to be released "in a searchable and downloadable format" within 30 days.

 President Donald Trump's approval is required next.  Reversing course after his administration refused to make them public, the president urged Republicans in Congress to vote in favour of the release on Monday.

 He had encountered opposition from Epstein's victims as well as a possible uprising by Republicans who would vote to compel the release of the papers.