Epstein scandal erupts again as Trump orders full disclosure

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has signed a bill ordering the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

Trump made the announcement on social media after months of pressure on his administration to disclose the full scope of Epstein’s crimes and his connections to political, business, and entertainment figures.

Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General, previously claimed at a press conference that the administration would comply with the law and promote maximum transparency in this case.

The Epstein Records Transparency Act—passed this week with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress—requires the Department of Justice to release all non-classified documents related to the disgraced financier in a searchable and downloadable format within 30 days.

The law includes provisions allowing officials to withhold documents related to the sexual abuse of minors, details that could identify victims, and information concerning active investigations, national defense, or foreign policy.

However, the text also specifies that no records may be withheld on the basis of reputational harm or political sensitivity, including for any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.

Although thousands of Epstein-related documents have already been released, the judge who presided over a case involving the sex offender earlier this year stated that the full set of records amounts to around 100,000 pages.

Epstein’s extensive connections with political figures, his vast wealth, and his mysterious background have fueled speculation for years.

Official explanations—including a joint memo from the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI concluding that there was no evidence to support prosecuting Epstein’s associates—have repeatedly failed to quell public controversy surrounding the case.

Trump, who had resisted calls for greater transparency, has sought to portray the move to release the records as a greater liability for Democrats than for his fellow Republicans.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump described Epstein as a “lifelong Democrat” and pointed to his connections with prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers.

Summers recently resigned from teaching at Harvard University amid the release of emails revealing the details of his friendly relationship with the sex offender.