Trump signs bill to release the DOJ’s Epstein files
Trump Signs Bill Releasing Epstein Files, Maintaining “Hoax” Critique of Democrats
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation requiring the Justice Department to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein, concluding a months-long bipartisan effort in Congress that initially faced resistance from the president and exposed tensions within the Republican Party.
Trump had previously indicated he would approve the measure, even as he continued to label the largely Democrat-led effort a “hoax.” In a post on Truth Social announcing the signing, he renewed attacks on Democrats, asserting they aimed “to try and distract” from his administration’s achievements.
The House passed the bill overwhelmingly on Tuesday, with only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) voting against it. The Senate then sent the measure to the president on Wednesday by unanimous consent.
Under the law, Attorney General Pam Bondi must release all unclassified Epstein-related records within 30 days, though the department may redact information that could compromise federal investigations.
Last week, Bondi agreed to Trump’s request to examine Epstein’s connections to Democrats and others. On Truth Social Wednesday night, Trump wrote, “Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed.”
The Justice Department previously said it “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.” When asked at a Wednesday press conference what had changed, Bondi cited “new information, additional information” but did not provide further details.
The Epstein files and Trump’s response have caused rare divisions among Republicans and his supporters. The bill, co-led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), drew support from Democrats and some Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who previously clashed publicly with Trump. On Sunday, the president reversed his prior opposition and urged House Republicans to back the measure, stating, “we have nothing to hide,” though he continued to label the controversy a Democratic “hoax.”
Supporters of the legislation and Epstein survivors held a news conference Tuesday on Capitol Hill, pressing lawmakers to approve the bill. Some survivors criticized the president directly, with Jena-Lisa Jones urging him to “please stop making this political.”
The Epstein files returned to public attention last week after House Oversight Republicans released more than 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s estate, following Democrats’ release of emails that mentioned Trump. In one 2019 email, Epstein claimed Trump “knew about the girls” but made no accusations of wrongdoing. A 2011 email referred to Trump as “that dog that hasn’t barked” and noted he “spent hours” at Epstein’s home with a redacted name labeled as a “victim.”
Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the emails “prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
Trump was acquainted with Epstein in the 1980s and ’90s but reportedly cut ties in the early 2000s after alleging Epstein hired young female employees from his resort’s spa. Trump has said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, with the White House describing the decision as expelling him “for being a creep.”
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of soliciting prostitution with a minor and died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
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