The measure prohibits the Justice Department from withholding, delaying, or redacting records for political and reputational reasons.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Nov. 19 signed into law a bill to release the files surrounding deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Jeffrey Epstein … was a lifelong Democrat, donated Thousands of Dollars to Democrat Politicians, and was deeply associated with many well-known Democrat figures,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social after signing the Congress-passed bill.
Trump repeated his position that the matter was a Democratic “hoax.”
The Epstein Files Transparency Act—which was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—orders the Department of Justice to release “in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” tied to Epstein no later than 30 days following the bill’s enactment.
The measure prohibits the Justice Department from withholding, delaying, or redacting records for political and reputational reasons.
However, the department is allowed to withhold records that identify the victims; consist of child sexual abuse material; jeopardize an ongoing federal investigation or prosecution; or depict images of death, physical abuse, or injury of any person.
Under the law, all redactions must be accompanied by a written explanation published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress.
Additionally, the measure requires the attorney general, within 15 days of releasing the files, to submit a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees listing all categories of records released and withheld; a summary of redactions made, including the legal basis; and a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, without redactions.
Ahead of the vote, Trump urged Republicans to support the bill.
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown,’” he said in a post on Truth Social.
The president had said he would sign the bill if it came to his desk.
By Jackson Richman and Joseph Lord
