The Justice Department now faces a 30-day deadline to release all remaining files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following President Donald Trump’s approval of legislation that forces full disclosure of investigative records surrounding the disgraced financier. The move represents a sharp reversal for Trump, who had the authority to release the documents during his previous term but declined to do so.
The bill’s passage comes after sustained pressure from both Democrats and conservative activists, each with political interests in the contents of the files. Democrats have highlighted Epstein’s past association with Trump, while Trump and his allies have emphasized Epstein’s connections to figures within the Democratic Party. The president framed the release as an opportunity to expose those ties, signaling a shift after years of shifting positions on the issue.
Under the new law, the Justice Department must publish files related not only to Epstein’s sex-trafficking investigation, but also to the inquiry into his 2019 death in a federal detention center. While victims’ identities may be redacted, the department is barred from withholding information due to concerns about reputation, political sensitivity or embarrassment.
The bill advanced quickly once Trump signaled he would sign it, prompting remaining Republican skeptics to move it through the House and, soon after, the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously stalled the measure for months but dropped his objections once it became clear the president backed it.
The legislation also follows the department’s assertion earlier this year that it had already released all documents permissible without affecting ongoing investigations or compromising victims. The new mandate requires a far broader release and imposes strict limits on discretionary withholding.
Source: The Guardian