Congress Nears Release of Epstein Files as Trump Reverses Course
Congress Nears Release of Epstein Files as Trump Reverses Course
Legislation to force the DOJ to release Epstein files heads to Trump for signing, with a 30-day release window and renewed calls for transparency.
Lawmakers approved a bipartisan bill to compel the Department of Justice to release Epstein-related records, sending the measure to President Trump's desk for signing. If enacted, the DOJ will have 30 days to publish the materials.
Epstein, a financier, was found dead in a New York prison cell in 2019 in what a coroner ruled a suicide while awaiting sex-trafficking charges after a prior 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Across two investigations, thousands of documents were gathered, including transcripts with victims and witnesses.
As the House Oversight Committee released emails, some mention Epstein and Maxwell and even reference Trump. One 2011 email reads, “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump,” though accuser Virginia Giuffre died in April and has said she never saw Trump participate in any abuse; there is no implication of Trump wrongdoing in the emails.
White House officials said the emails were selectively leaked to smear the president, arguing the material had been taken out of context. The push to force disclosure was led by Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, who argued for transparency despite occasional clashes within their parties.
Massie told reporters that, in 2030, Trump won’t be president, underscoring the partisan dynamics behind the fight over Epstein's files. Survivors and advocates have pressed for openness, arguing the public deserves access to the records.
With a vote expected to be bipartisan, the move underscores a broader debate about government transparency in sensitive criminal investigations.
Cover image source: House Is Expected to Vote on Tuesday to Release Epstein Files 🔗
