President Donald Trump signed a bill Wednesday to compel the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, capping off a monthslong bipartisan push in Congress that initially met resistance from the president and sparked sharp divisions within the Republican Party.
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- Trump signed a bill to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein and the investigation into his death within 30 days.
- The bill requires redactions about Epstein's victims but forbids withholding information due to embarrassment or political sensitivity.
- The House passed the legislation 427-1, and the Senate approved it unanimously.
President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, officially directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all unclassified records and documents connected to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The move marks a stunning reversal for the president, who until days ago was adamantly against releasing the files. Trump called on House Republicans to pass the bill on Sunday evening in a Truth Social post, saying it was time to move on from the controversy.
House Republicans, in turn, fell in line, voting with House Democrats to pass the legislation 427 to 1 on Tuesday. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) was the only lawmaker to vote “no” on the measure. Hours later the Senate unanimously passed the legislation before it was sent to the White House
Attorney General Pam Bondi now has 30 days to “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorneys’ Offices, that relate to Epstein.”
It’s unclear how much information will be gleaned from the released files. The legislation includes exceptions, including the possibility where the Justice Department could withhold or redact the identities and personal information of Epstein’s victims. The legislation also states that the Justice Department can move to withhold or redact information that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.”
