Epstein files to go public as Trump says he signed law authorizing release of records
In a significant legislative move, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has signed a bill allowing the Justice Department to release files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump expressed his enthusiasm on the Truth Social platform, stating, “I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” He highlighted that the bill received overwhelming support in Congress, with a bipartisan vote of 421-1 in the House, primarily driven by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). The legislation mandates the release of all unclassified records and investigative materials concerning Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including details related to trafficking allegations and communications within the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, sensitive information, such as victims’ identities and classified materials, may be redacted.
The push for transparency surrounding Epstein’s case has intensified in light of Trump’s prior connections to him, which have come under scrutiny. Trump has publicly claimed that he has “nothing to hide,” framing the release of the files as a necessary step to move past what he describes as a “Democrat hoax.” This rhetoric has resonated with his supporters, especially after the DOJ and FBI announced in July that they had closed their investigation into Epstein without releasing further materials. The recent release of emails mentioning Trump from Epstein’s estate has further fueled the debate, prompting Republicans to release their own documents related to the case. While the emails contain references to Trump, they do not imply any wrongdoing on his part, as he has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act represents a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding Epstein’s legacy and the broader implications of his case. As the DOJ prepares to release nearly 50,000 pages of documents within 30 days, the potential impact on public perception and the political landscape remains to be seen. The release could also have ramifications for future whistleblowers and informants, as concerns have been raised about the risks involved in disclosing sensitive information to Congress. As this story unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor how the release of these documents influences ongoing discussions about accountability and justice in cases of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
President
Donald Trump
said on Wednesday evening that he signed legislation green-lighting the Justice Department to release files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender
Jeffrey Epstein
.
“I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” Trump wrote in a lengthy message on the Truth Social platform. “As everyone knows, I asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to pass this Bill in the House and Senate, respectively. Because of this request, the votes were almost unanimous in favor of passage.
“At my direction, the Department of Justice has already turned over close to fifty thousand pages of documents to Congress. Do not forget — The Biden Administration did not turn over a SINGLE file or page related to Democrat Epstein, nor did they ever even speak about him.”
WHITE HOUSE SLAMS DEMS’ ‘BAD-FAITH’ EPSTEIN DOC RELEASE AS DEMAND FOR FILES INTENSIFIES
Trump’s ties to Epstein had faced increased attention after Trump’s Justice Department and FBI announced in July it would not unseal investigation materials related to Epstein, and that the agencies’ investigation into the case had closed.
But Sunday Trump announced that he backed releasing the documents, asserting that he had “nothing to hide.”
“As I said on Friday night aboard Air Force One to the Fake News Media,
House Republicans
should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown,'” Trump wrote.
The House voted Tuesday to release the files by a 421–1 margin, following pressure for months from the measure’s ringleaders, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and other Democrats.
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., was the only House member to vote against the release, and said he didn’t back the measure because “this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc.”
Although Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson
, R-La., ultimately voted in favor of the measure, he also voiced similar concerns during a Tuesday press conference.
EPSTEIN REFERENCED TRUMP IN PRIVATE EMAILS TO GHISLAINE MAXWELL AND OTHERS, NEW RECORDS SHOW
“Who’s going to want to come forward if they think Congress can take a political exercise and reveal their identities? Who’s going to come talk to prosecutors? It’s very dangerous. It would deter future whistleblowers and informants,” he said. “The release of that could also publicly reveal the identity, by the way, of undercover law enforcement officers who are working in future operations.”
After the House’s approval of the measure, the bill headed to the Senate and passed hours later Tuesday by unanimous consent.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act specifically directs the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell, as well as files related to individuals who were referenced in Epstein previous legal cases, details surrounding trafficking allegations, internal DOJ communications as they relate to Epstein and any details surrounding the investigation into his death.
Files that include victims’ names, child sex abuse materials, classified materials or other materials that could threaten an active investigation may be withheld or redacted by the DOJ.
Attorney General
Pam Bondi
told reporters Wednesday that she would comply with the law after it was signed, which directs the Justice Department to release the files online in a searchable format within 30 days.
The Epstein files received fanfare among supporters of the president in the early days of the administration as they rallied around the Trump DOJ to release details on Epstein’s alleged “client list” and death.
The DOJ and FBI said in a joint memo obtained by Fox News in July that the two agencies had no further information to share with the public about Epstein’s case and suicide in 2019, sparking outrage among some MAGA supporters as they demanded the DOJ release more documents.
Trump has since railed against the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax,” before calling for their release Sunday.
The push to release the files gained increased momentum after
Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
released three emails Wednesday that Epstein’s estate provided to them that mentioned Trump. In turn, Republicans released their own stash of 20,000 pages of Epstein documents that same day.
EPSTEIN ESTATE TO BEGIN HANDING FILES TO HOUSE INVESTIGATORS AFTER ‘BIRTHDAY BOOK’ SUBPOENA
Included in the tranche of documents are emails between Epstein and his longtime associate
Ghislaine Maxwell
and correspondence with author Michael Wolff, former President
Barack Obama
‘s White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, among others, where Epstein mentions Trump.
“i want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. (VICTIM) spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned. police chief. etc. im 75 % there,” Epstein said in an email to Maxwell in April 2011, which was provided with other correspondence to the committee by Epstein’s estate in response to a subpoena request.
“I have been thinking about that…” Maxwell said in response.
Epstein told Wolff in a separate email in 2019 that “of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop” — a reference to Trump. Trump has said that he barred Epstein from his Florida Mar-a-Lago golf club because Epstein kept “taking people who worked for me.”
While the documents themselves are authentic, Epstein’s statements in the emails remain unverified and uncorroborated. The documents do not claim that Trump committed any wrongdoing, and only portray Epstein mentioning the president.
Likewise, Trump has not faced formal accusations of misconduct tied to Epstein, and no law enforcement records connect Trump to Epstein’s crimes.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on federal charges. Maxwell was convicted on charges including sex trafficking of a minor and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and David Spunt contributed to this report.
