Congress has ordered the DOJ to release the full set of 'Epstein files,' and President Trump now has the bill on his desk. If signed, DOJ must disclose records within 30 days, though the law allows withholding material that would impede an active criminal investigation. Ankush Khardori says a clear smoking-gun of criminality is unlikely; instead, the documents will probably produce politically embarrassing or damaging material. He warns there is no guarantee every page will be released and urges reporters to distinguish criminal evidence from mere embarrassment.
What to Expect When the 'Epstein Files' Are Released — Likely Embarrassment, Not a Smoking Gun
Congress has ordered the DOJ to release the full set of 'Epstein files,' and President Trump now has the bill on his desk. If signed, DOJ must disclose records within 30 days, though the law allows withholding material that would impede an active criminal investigation. Ankush Khardori says a clear smoking-gun of criminality is unlikely; instead, the documents will probably produce politically embarrassing or damaging material. He warns there is no guarantee every page will be released and urges reporters to distinguish criminal evidence from mere embarrassment.
06:16 AM, 11/20/2025Politics
Congress has passed a law compelling the Department of Justice to disclose a full set of investigative records, internal communications and related documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill has been sent to President Donald Trump’s desk; once he signs it, the DOJ will have 30 days to begin releasing the material.
That deadline does not resolve key questions: what the papers will actually show, whether the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi will withhold or redact portions of the trove, and whether the release will satisfy a public eager for every detail. The DOJ acknowledges it holds tens of thousands of pages of Epstein-related material, while judges have already indicated some items — notably grand jury material — are likely to remain sealed despite Congress’s mandate.
What matters most: any presidential ties?
Ankush Khardori, a senior writer who has followed the Epstein story, says the most pressing public question is whether the files contain information about the sitting president. Trump has been linked to Epstein in public reporting and documentary material over many years, though there is no credible evidence that he committed criminal wrongdoing or knew of it. Khardori says the White House has not provided a clear account of when or why the Trump–Epstein relationship ended, and that the public deserves to know whether the records shed light on that relationship.
Will the government actually release everything?
The short answer: no guarantee. The new law includes an exception allowing the government to withhold material that would interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation. The administration has recently opened an investigation Khardori describes as focused on Democrats. He warns that the DOJ could invoke that investigation to justify withholding or redacting substantial portions of the files.
Is a major 'smoking gun' likely?
Khardori distinguishes criminal evidence from material that is merely embarrassing or morally offensive. He assesses that uncovering fresh, decisive evidence of criminal misconduct is unlikely. What is far more probable is the publication of politically damaging or embarrassing correspondence and other documents — examples of which have already surfaced in recent weeks (for instance, emails involving former Treasury official Larry Summers and Epstein).
Could the release be politically selective?
One plausible scenario is a selective dump of documents intended to maximize political harm to adversaries while leaving other material sealed under the investigation exception. Khardori urges caution and journalistic rigor: reporters should distinguish clearly between evidence suggesting criminal activity and material that is merely embarrassing or politically inconvenient.
“We have to be very careful here,” Khardori said. “Maintain the distinction between criminal misconduct and things that are just really, really embarrassing for people.”
Ultimately, the coming disclosures may reveal little that alters the legal narrative around Epstein, but they are likely to produce a wave of politically consequential revelations. Readers and journalists should prepare for a mix of mundane records, salacious detail and legitimate privacy or grand jury protections that will keep parts of the record from public view.