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President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, requiring the Department of Justice to release all unclassified records related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. The bipartisan bill cleared Congress this week with overwhelming support, passing the House by a 421–1 vote and the Senate by unanimous consent.
It directs the Justice Department to post unclassified Epstein-related files online in a searchable format. The release is expected to include investigative materials, communications, and other records tied to Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, while redacting any information that identifies victims or could interfere with ongoing investigations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the department would meet the deadline. “The department will release the files online in a searchable format within the required 30-day period,” Bondi told reporters after the signing.
Trump announced the signing in a statement posted to his Truth Social account, declaring, “I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” He also accused Democrats of using the Epstein issue to smear Republicans and said the public would soon see the truth about Epstein’s political ties. “Jeffrey Epstein was a lifelong Democrat, donated thousands of dollars to Democrat politicians, and was deeply associated with many well-known Democrat figures such as Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, Hakeem Jeffries, and Stacey Plaskett,” Trump wrote. “Perhaps the truth about these Democrats and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein will soon be revealed.”
The measure was spearheaded by Representatives Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, who said the legislation was about transparency rather than politics.
“This is about justice for victims and truth for the American people,” Khanna said in a statement following passage. Massie called it “a long-overdue step toward accountability.”
The law requires the DOJ to disclose unclassified files connected to Epstein’s activities, including his prosecution, his death in federal custody in 2019, and the department’s internal handling of the investigation.
It also applies to records referencing individuals named in Epstein’s previous cases, though child sex abuse materials and classified information will remain sealed.
The timing of the signing also drew political reaction. Hours before the announcement, former Vice President Kamala Harris accused Trump of “gaslighting” Americans over the issue.
Speaking on a podcast, Harris said Trump could have released the files at any time without waiting for congressional approval.
“He is the president of the United States,” she said. “If he truly wanted the truth out, he could have done it months ago. So release the files.”
It is unclear why former Vice President Kamala Harris did not press her boss, former President Joe Biden, to release the files.
White House officials dismissed Harris’s comments as “grandstanding,” noting that the president wanted Congress to codify the release to ensure compliance and avoid claims of executive overreach.
The administration has said the new law provides a clear legal framework for releasing the materials while protecting victims’ privacy.
Trump used the moment to emphasize his broader political message, describing the bill’s passage as another victory for his administration.
“The Biden Administration did not turn over a single file or page related to Epstein, nor did they ever even speak about him,” Trump said. “Democrats have used this issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, to distract from our great victories — including strong borders, lower inflation, and record tax and regulation cuts.”
In recent weeks, House Republicans have accused Democrats of manipulating information obtained from Epstein’s estate to link the president to the disgraced financier. An internal GOP Oversight Committee memo released earlier this week claimed Democrats selectively leaked emails and redacted names to mislead the media. The memo cited testimony from former Attorney General Bill Barr stating that Trump “did not participate or know about the nature of Epstein’s crimes.”
The Justice Department has not specified which files will be included in the first batch of disclosures but confirmed that the process of preparing documents for release is already underway. Officials said the department plans to publish the records in stages beginning in mid-December.
“The American people deserve to know the truth — and now they will,” Bondi said.
