The words Epstein files have been haunting the administration of US President Donald Trump for months as it grapples with a growing crisis over the crimes of late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Pressure was building from Trump's own supporters and from voices within his own Republican Party for more transparency on what the federal investigations into Epstein uncovered.
After weeks of resisting release, Trump reversed course and urged Republicans to vote to open the Epstein files to public scrutiny. Both chambers of Congress approved a measure that compels the US justice department to release all files pertaining to its investigation into Epstein. The following day, Trump announced in a social media post that he had signed a bill that approved the release of the files.
Now, the justice department has 30 days to release all the files - except for those that relate to an active criminal investigation, identify victims of Epstein's abuse or invade their privacy, or contain images of physical and child sex abuse, death, or injury.
In 2008, Epstein reached a plea deal with prosecutors after the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home. Photos of girls were found throughout the house, and he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he was registered as a sex offender.
These criminal investigations amassed a vast trove of documents including transcripts of interviews with victims and witnesses, and items confiscated from raids on his various properties. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found over 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence in its databases, hard drives, and other storage, according to a 2025 memo from the justice department. However, some files will be withheld to protect victim identities.
Earlier releases have included various materials, notably a birthday book containing Trump's name, numerous emails, and flight logs from Epstein's plane. The recent approval of the bill to release more documents has rekindled interest in Epstein's relationships with several high-profile figures, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and even some royals.
As the deadline for the files' release looms, several questions remain: What will the content reveal? How will this affect the implicated individuals? And why has there been such persistent interest in Epstein's case? Stay tuned as we await the justice department's disclosures in the coming weeks.
After weeks of resisting release, Trump reversed course and urged Republicans to vote to open the Epstein files to public scrutiny. Both chambers of Congress approved a measure that compels the US justice department to release all files pertaining to its investigation into Epstein. The following day, Trump announced in a social media post that he had signed a bill that approved the release of the files.
Now, the justice department has 30 days to release all the files - except for those that relate to an active criminal investigation, identify victims of Epstein's abuse or invade their privacy, or contain images of physical and child sex abuse, death, or injury.
In 2008, Epstein reached a plea deal with prosecutors after the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home. Photos of girls were found throughout the house, and he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he was registered as a sex offender.
These criminal investigations amassed a vast trove of documents including transcripts of interviews with victims and witnesses, and items confiscated from raids on his various properties. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found over 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence in its databases, hard drives, and other storage, according to a 2025 memo from the justice department. However, some files will be withheld to protect victim identities.
Earlier releases have included various materials, notably a birthday book containing Trump's name, numerous emails, and flight logs from Epstein's plane. The recent approval of the bill to release more documents has rekindled interest in Epstein's relationships with several high-profile figures, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and even some royals.
As the deadline for the files' release looms, several questions remain: What will the content reveal? How will this affect the implicated individuals? And why has there been such persistent interest in Epstein's case? Stay tuned as we await the justice department's disclosures in the coming weeks.
