Trump signs bill demanding his administration release Epstein files
WASHINGTON- President Trump signed legislation Wednesday evening requiring the Justice Department to release all documents related to its investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Without much fanfare, the president announced the action in a lengthy social media post attacking Democrats linked to the late financier, a line of attack he has often deployed while ignoring his and other Republicans’ ties to the scandal.
“Maybe the truth about these Democrats and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein will be revealed soon, but I JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
Attention now turns to Atty. General Pam Bondi, whom the legislation requires to make available “all unclassified files, documents, communications and investigative materials” in the possession of the Department of Justice no later than 30 days after the law comes into force.
Action on the bill marks a sea change for Trump, who worked for months to prevent the release of the Epstein files — until Sunday, when he changed course under pressure from his party and called on Republican lawmakers to support the measure. Within days, the Senate and House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill and sent it to Trump’s desk.
Although Trump has now signed the bill, his resistance to releasing the files has sparked skepticism from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill who wonder whether the Justice Department might try to withhold information.
“The real test will be: will the Justice Department release the files or will it all remain tied to the investigations? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Tuesday during a news conference before the House and Senate took up the bill. Greene was among a small group of GOP defectors who joined with Democrats to force passage of the bill over Trump’s objections.
The legislation prohibits the attorney general from withholding, delaying or redacting the release of “any record, document, communication or investigative material on the basis of embarrassment, reputational damage or political sensitivity, including with respect to any government official, public figure or foreign dignitary.”
Exclusions in the bill could allow Trump and Bondi to withhold documents containing victim-identifying information or depictions of child sexual abuse material.
The law would also allow them to withhold information that would “jeopardize an active federal investigation or pending prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly focused and temporary.”
Trump last week ordered the Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s ties to major banks and several prominent Democrats, including former President Clinton.
Bondi complied and appointed a top federal prosecutor to continue the investigation with “urgency and integrity.” In July, the Justice Department determined, after an extensive review, that there was insufficient evidence “to support an investigation against unindicted third parties” in the Epstein case.
At a news conference Wednesday, Bondi said the department opened another case involving Epstein after “new information” emerged.
Bondi did not say how the new investigation might affect the release of the records.
Asked if Epstein’s documents would be released within 30 days, as required by law, Bondi said his department would “follow the law.”
“We will continue to respect the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims,” Bondi said.
