The U.S. Department of Justice will release materials from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein within the next 30 days, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Wednesday. The decision follows an almost unanimous vote in Congress, which required the administration of President Donald Trump to make the documents public.
Congress Forces Release Amid Ongoing Public Pressure
The release is expected to shed further light on Epstein’s illicit activities, including his connections with Trump and other high-profile public figures. Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution, yet continued his influence and social connections for years afterward.
The scandal has posed a persistent problem for President Trump, particularly because he has amplified conspiracy theories about Epstein among his supporters, while simultaneously facing accusations that his administration tried to limit transparency around Epstein’s network.
Accusations of Cover-Ups and Selective Transparency
The Trump administration has repeatedly faced allegations of shielding powerful individuals linked to Epstein and obscuring details about Epstein’s controversial death, officially ruled a suicide in a Manhattan detention center in 2019 while he awaited federal sex-trafficking charges.
During a press briefing, Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department will comply with the new bipartisan law passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate requiring publication of the materials.
“We will continue to follow the law and promote maximum transparency,” Bondi said.
However, she also noted that not all files may be released. Some documents may be withheld to avoid interfering with investigations ordered by Trump into Democratic figures connected to Epstein, raising concerns about politically selective transparency. Additionally, the identities of sex-trafficking victims referenced in the files will be protected.
