Trump Signs Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files Amidst Internal GOP Rifts
TL/DR –
President Donald Trump has signed a bill compelling the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The legislation, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to make all unclassified records public within 30 days, but allows her to withhold information that could disrupt a federal investigation. Trump, who has previously referred to the push to release the files as a “hoax”, announced the bill signing on Truth Social and used the occasion to critique Democrats.
Trump Signs Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files
President Donald Trump signed a bill to oblige the Justice Department to release files associated with Jeffrey Epstein, concluding an extended bipartisan effort in Congress. Despite initial resistance from him and disagreements within the Republican Party, Trump had stated he would endorse the law, but continued to dismiss the Democrat-led initiative as a “hoax”.
Trump announced his signing of the legislation on Truth Social. There was no public bill signing ceremony at the White House. Trump utilized his post to further criticize Democrats, referring to their actions as an effort to distract from his administrative achievements.
The House passed the bill with sweeping support on Tuesday, with Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the lone dissenting vote. The Senate agreed to forward the measure to Trump by unanimous consent on Wednesday.
The new law requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish all non-classified Epstein-related records within 30 days, with the provision to withhold information that may endanger a federal investigation. Bondi has agreed to investigate Epstein’s ties to Democrats as per Trump’s request. Trump, in his Truth Social post, suggested some revelations about Democrats’ associations with Epstein could be forthcoming.
The Justice Department had previously stated it “found no evidence that would warrant an investigation against uncharged third parties”.
The dispute over the Epstein files has caused discord among Republicans in Congress and Trump’s supporters. The bill was co-led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and garnered vocal support from a diverse group of lawmakers.
After endorsing the bill, Trump encouraged House Republicans to support it, stating, “we have nothing to hide”. Despite this, he kept labeling the scandal as a “hoax” conceived by Democrats.
Supporters of the legislation and survivors of Epstein’s abuse held a press conference to appeal for the release of the files. One survivor, Jena-Lisa Jones, urged Trump to stop politicizing the situation.
Epstein’s files gained prominence last week when House Republicans released over 20,000 pages of documents from his estate. Trump continuously denies involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The relationship between Trump and Epstein, which soured in the early 2000s, has been under scrutiny. Trump had accused Epstein of poaching young female staff from his spa and subsequently banned him from Mar-a-Lago.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida charges of soliciting prostitution with a minor. He died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Article by Megan Lebowitz, a politics reporter for NBC News.
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