Trump Signs Bill to Release Epstein Files Amid Political Backlash

Thu Nov 20 2025 05:57:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Donald Trump has signed legislation mandating the release of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following pressure from victims and lawmakers.

In a surprising turn of events, President Trump has approved a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all Epstein investigation files in a searchable format within 30 days. The decision comes after significant pushback from both victims of Epstein and members of Trump's own party. While this move satisfies some demands for transparency, concerns remain regarding the potential withholding of certain documents due to privacy and ongoing investigations.

Trump Signs Bill to Release Epstein Files Amid Political Backlash

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he signed a bill ordering the release of all files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill requires the justice department to release all information from its Epstein investigation in a searchable and downloadable format within 30 days.

Trump previously opposed releasing the files, but he changed course last week after facing pushback from Epstein's victims and members of his own Republican Party. With his support, the legislation overwhelmingly cleared both chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and Senate, on Tuesday.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, the president accused Democrats of championing the issue to distract attention from the achievements of his administration. 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.

Lawmakers in the House passed the legislation with a 427-1 vote. The Senate gave unanimous consent to pass it upon its arrival. Some 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein's estate, including some that directly mention Trump, were released last week.

They include 2018 messages from Epstein in which he stated about Trump: I am the one able to take him down and I know how dirty Donald is. Trump was a friend of Epstein's for years but has maintained that they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein's first arrest. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Despite the president's commitment to transparency, the release of the full Epstein files is not guaranteed. Portions may still be withheld if deemed to invade personal privacy or relate to an active investigation. One of the bill's architects, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, expressed concerns that Trump might open a series of investigations that could prevent the full release of the files.

As the political implications of this legislation unfold, many are watching closely to see how the situation will develop, particularly regarding Trump's ties to Epstein and the potential revelations that could arise from these documents.