In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, both the US House of Representatives and the Senate have voted to release long-sealed files connected to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision marks the most significant step toward transparency since Epstein’s 2019 death and has intensified scrutiny of high-profile figures who crossed his path.
The looming release has cast a long shadow over President Donald Trump, whose past social ties with Epstein have once again resurfaced.
The two men were acquaintances in the late 1990s and early 2000s before a well-documented falling-out prior to Epstein’s convictions.
In May, reports surfaced that then-Attorney General Pam Bondi privately briefed Trump that his name, along with other major public figures, appeared in the files.
Trump’s allies have since stressed that inclusion does not imply guilt – only proximity or mention in the investigative materials.
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Trump and Epstein have been photographed together multiple times. Credit: Davidoff Studios/Getty Images.
What Exactly Are the Epstein Files?
The term “Epstein files” refers to a vast collection believed to include flight logs, emails, internal DOJ communications, estate records, and documents from the criminal investigations into both Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
These files reportedly illuminate Epstein’s network, movements, and interactions with influential individuals across politics, business, and entertainment.
For years, campaigners have argued that full disclosure could reveal who may have been aware of (or complicit in) his crimes.
The Clause That Changes Everything
Hidden deep in the legislation is a strikingly blunt restriction on what the Department of Justice is allowed to redact.
The bill states that the DOJ cannot remove information simply because it would cause “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
This clause, extraordinary in its directness, opens the door to politically explosive disclosures, including potential mentions of Trump.
The Growing Controversy Surrounding the Documents
Recent batches of documents released by House Democrats have already included emails referencing Trump, Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - formerly Prince Andrew - Virginia Giuffre, and former UK ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre pictured in 2001. The former prince has maintained that the image was doctored. Credit: Anadolu/Getty Images.
One email quoted Epstein claiming Trump “knew about the girls,” though Trump insists he severed ties once he became aware of the financier’s behavior.
Epstein later disputed Trump’s account in an email to journalist Michael Wolff, claiming the president misrepresented their relationship.
Why the Government Finally Acted
Democrats forced a vote through a discharge petition, with four Republicans signing on – enough to trigger a House vote.
Trump initially opposed the release, calling the files a “Democrat hoax,” but abruptly reversed course this week, declaring he has “nothing to hide.”
If Trump signs the bill, the government will have 30 days to release the files, with only victims’ identities and active investigations eligible for redaction.