In a surprising switch, President Donald Trump signed a law on Wednesday forcing the Justice Department to make public files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein including records about the probe into his 2019 death in federal custody.
The move came after a messy few days on Capitol Hill. At first, the White House resisted calls from both Republicans and Democrats to hand over the documents. But as it became clear Congress would pass a bill to compel disclosure, Trump reversed course and put his signature on the measure.
Under the new law, the Justice Department has 30 days to release all files and communications connected to Epstein. Officials can still redact details that would interfere with ongoing federal investigations or reveal victims’ identities, but they can’t hide material simply because it might be embarrassing or politically awkward.
The push to force disclosure brought together an unusual mix of lawmakers Democrats, one Republican who has clashed with the president, and a few former Trump loyalists who argued the public deserves answers. The House approved the bill by a vote of 427–1; Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana cast the lone “no,” warning that the language could expose innocent people mentioned in the files. The Senate later cleared the bill unanimously.
Trump framed his change of heart as practical politics. He complained that the Epstein issue had become a distraction from his administration’s accomplishments and said he wanted the party to stay focused on its agenda. The White House noted Trump could have released many of the records himself months ago but chose to sign the congressional measure instead.
The president’s ties to Epstein are well known; Trump has said he ended their relationship years before Epstein’s crimes came to light and denied any knowledge of them. Still, the Epstein files have long inspired conspiracy theories and claims of a cover-up and some of Trump’s allies helped fuel those theories before he took office again.
Now the countdown begins. The public and journalists will be watching to see what the Justice Department releases in the coming weeks and whether the documents answer lingering questions about Epstein’s network and the circumstances of his death.
