US President Donald Trump says he signed a bill that orders the release of government files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - a significant turning point in a months-long fight over the documents.
The justice department now has 30 days to publicly share all information from federal investigations into Epstein. However, it can withhold files that relate to active criminal investigations or are deemed to invade personal privacy.
In a major reversal, Trump dropped his opposition to the measure last weekend, after pushback from Epstein's victims and members of his own Republican Party.
With his support, the resolution overwhelmingly cleared both chambers of Congress.
Until recently, Trump had dismissed the need to release the documents, calling it a Democrat-led hoax to deflect attention away from his party's work. That position was itself a change from the stance he took ahead of the 2024 election.
Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES! he wrote.
Although a congressional vote was not required to release the files - Trump could have ordered the release on his own - lawmakers in the House passed the legislation with a 427-1 vote. The Senate gave unanimous consent to pass it upon its arrival, sending the bill to Trump for his signature.
The lone vote against the resolution in the House, the lower chamber, was cast by Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins, who objected to the scope of information that could be released. He said it could reveal and threaten thousands of innocent people who may have talked to investigators about allegations against Epstein.
Under the law now signed by Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi must release the documents within 30 days.
The files subject to release are from criminal investigations into Epstein, including transcripts of interviews with victims and witnesses, and items seized in raids of his properties. Those materials include internal justice department communications, flight logs, and people and entities connected to the late financier.
But there are exceptions. The resolution allows the justice department to withhold any documents related to criminal investigations. After the estate documents were released last week, Trump said he would ask Bondi to investigate Epstein's ties to people who had apparently communicated with him. Bondi promptly said the justice department will pursue this with urgency and integrity.
One of the bill's architects, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, expressed concerns that the move might lead to some federal files being withheld, stating, I'm concerned that Trump is opening a flurry of investigations and I believe they may be trying to use those investigations as a predicate for not releasing the files. That's my concern.
Under the new law, Bondi can also withhold information that may identify victims or reveal their medical files, leading many to speculate that parts of the files will be redacted - although it remains unclear how heavy the redacting could be.
I'm glad in the act itself they put specific language reinforcing the privacy rights of the victims here, said Christine Dunn, an attorney with Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight who specializes in sexual violence and victims' rights.
The family of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, stated that Trump's signing of the bill was nothing short of monumental for Giuffre and other survivors. Their statement insisted that every name must be revealed, regardless of power, wealth, or party affiliation.
Epstein was found dead in 2019 in his New York prison cell in what a coroner ruled was a suicide. He was being held on charges of sex trafficking.
