Trump Signs Bill Requiring Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files, Promising “Maximum Transparency:

President Donald Trump has signed a new law that will force the US government to release a massive collection of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement comes after months of growing public pressure for answers about Epstein’s crimes and the powerful people he associated with. Trump revealed the move late Wednesday on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying the country “deserves to know the truth.” His post appeared to signal a sudden shift, as the administration had long resisted calls for broader transparency in the case. Earlier in the day, US Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters that the administration intended to “follow the law” and support “maximum transparency,” hinting the White House was preparing to comply with the new legislation. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, requires the Department of Justice to release all unclassified material tied to Epstein within 30 days. The files must be made available to the public in a format that is both searchable and easy to download. The law does allow certain sensitive information to be withheld—such as child sexual abuse material, victims’ identities, national security details and anything tied to ongoing investigations. But it also makes one condition very clear: records cannot be kept secret simply because they might embarrass someone, damage a reputation or create political discomfort for a public figure. Although thousands of pages of Epstein documents have already been made public, officials estimate that roughly 100,000 pages exist in total. Epstein’s extraordinary wealth, mysterious background and long list of high-profile contacts have fueled speculation for years, spawning countless conspiracy theories that official explanations have never fully put to rest. A previous memo from the Trump-era Justice Department and FBI concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to charge any of Epstein’s associates, but that finding did little to settle public doubt. In his announcement, Trump attempted to place political pressure on Democrats, calling Epstein a “lifelong Democrat” and highlighting his connections to well-known Democratic figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. Both men have denied wrongdoing, and neither has been accused of any crime related to Epstein. Summers recently stepped away from teaching at Harvard after emails revealed a friendly relationship with Epstein. Trump himself was friendly with Epstein decades ago, and his name appeared prominently in emails released by Congress earlier this month. One 2011 message showed Epstein telling Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had spent “hours” at his home with a sex trafficking victim—an allegation Trump strongly denies. He has repeatedly said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. The announcement has already stirred skepticism. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said he is “not at all confident” the administration will release the files as required. Speaking on MS NOW with Chris Hayes, Schiff accused the administration of repeatedly obstructing transparency in other matters and suggested this could become “a textbook example of how not to handle a crisis.” With the 30-day countdown now underway, the public may soon get its most detailed look yet at the Epstein case—an outcome that could reshape long-standing debates about one of the most controversial criminal scandals in recent history.

NEWS