Congress Forces DOJ to Release Epstein Files — Trump Reverses Course as Bill Heads to His Desk

Congress has moved to compel the Justice Department to disclose unclassified records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after the House passed the measure nearly unanimously and the Senate cleared it by unanimous consent. The bill now awaits President Trump's signature after he abruptly abandoned his earlier opposition.

What the bill requires

The measure would direct the attorney general to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials in the possession of the Justice Department, the FBI and U.S. attorneys' offices within 30 days of enactment. That includes investigative and prosecutorial files related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs and travel records, materials about Epstein's detention and death, internal Justice Department communications about the cases, and any records "concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration, misplacement, or concealment of documents, recordings, or electronic data" tied to Epstein and his associates. The bill also requires disclosure of names of individuals and entities referenced in any Epstein matter.

What records the Justice Department may hold

It is unclear exactly what documents the Justice Department maintains or how extensive its files are. Epstein and Maxwell were the subjects of multiple federal and state investigations: Epstein faced state charges in Florida in the 2000s and federal sex‑trafficking charges in 2019; Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 20‑year sentence. Epstein's death in federal custody in 2019 was also investigated by the Justice Department.

How the measure reached the floor

The bill's lead sponsors, Rep. Ro Khanna (D‑Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑Ky.), pushed the legislation and used a discharge petition to bypass House leadership after months of delay. More than half the chamber — every Democrat plus four Republicans — signed the petition, forcing a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson accelerated a floor vote after prolonged internal disputes and public pressure from members on both sides of the aisle.

Senate action and the president's reversal

After the House approved the bill, Senate Majority Leader action was initially uncertain, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer moved to take it up and obtained unanimous consent. President Trump, who had criticized supporters of the measure and urged investigation of Epstein's ties to prominent Democrats, reversed course late Sunday and said he would sign the bill if it reached his desk.

What has already been released and contested materials

Tens of thousands of pages related to Epstein — emails, flight logs and other documents — have already been released via congressional oversight and court rulings. Recent releases included messages in which Epstein claimed to possess compromising information about various public figures; those assertions have not been corroborated. The Justice Department and FBI previously issued a memo saying an "exhaustive review" did not uncover credible evidence warranting investigations of uncharged third parties or a so‑called "client list," and courts have denied some requests to unseal grand jury material.

Administration handling and reactions

The Trump administration's handling of the materials has drawn criticism from multiple quarters. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi once presented binders labeled "The Epstein Files" that critics noted contained largely public documents. Critics and supporters alike have debated whether the forthcoming disclosures will reveal new, consequential evidence or largely repackage material already public.

What happens next

If signed, the Justice Department will have 30 days to publish the specified unclassified records. If the president declines to sign, the files could still be released voluntarily by the department, though exemptions for grand jury or ongoing investigations could limit disclosure. Observers expect scrutiny over whether newly released records add materially to the public record about Epstein's network or simply compile documents already available.