President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation requiring the Department of Justice to make public a vast trove of internal documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, ending months of resistance and capitulating to bipartisan pressure.
The law compels the Justice Department to release all “unclassified records, communications and investigative materials” connected to Epstein’s offences and his 2019 death in federal custody within 30 days, though it allows redactions to protect victims or ongoing investigations.
Congress moved quickly on the legislation. The House of Representatives approved the bill Tuesday by a final margin of 427-1, with only Rep. Clay Higgins voting against, citing concern about rights of innocent individuals. The Senate passed it unanimously.
Trump had resisted the measure for months, publicly labeling the push for the files a “hoax” tied to Democrats. But he reversed course, posting on his social-media platform that “we have nothing to hide” and endorsing the bill as a means to move the country beyond the issue.
With the bill now law, attention turns to how promptly the records will be released and how complete they will be. Justice officials say the files will be public in 30 days, but some analysts caution that claims of full disclosure may face hurdles relating to classified material, victim privacy or ongoing probes.
The files are widely expected to spark new scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the handling of his case and may raise awkward questions about powerful individuals with connections to Epstein’s social circle, including many Democrats. The sweeping bipartisan push signals rare congressional unity on an issue with the long-standing public fascination.
