WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, capping off a months-long bipartisan push in Congress that was initially met with resistance by the president.
Trump had previously said he would sign the bill into law, despite calling the push to release the files a “hoax” that he claims is made up by the Democrats.
The president did not hold a public bill signing ceremony at the White House as he has done for other pieces of legislation; instead, he announced on Truth Social that he had signed the measure. He also used the post to argue that Democrats were attempting “to try and distract” from his administration’s accomplishments.
“Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi faced questions from reporters on how the administration will release documents in the Epstein files.
“We have released over 33,000 Epstein documents to the Hill, and we will continue to follow the law and to have maximum transparency. Also, we will always encourage all victims to come forward,” Bondi said at a news conference alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and other officials.
It’s unlikely the Justice Department would release the entire Epstein file, according to sources. It is also unclear if the DOJ will try to cite the new investigation as a reason for exempting the files from public disclosure due to their relevance to the new investigation.
Trump did not need to wait for Congress to act — he could order the release immediately as president.
The Epstein files and the president’s handling of the controversy have sparked rare pushback among Republicans in Congress and Trump’s supporters.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of soliciting prostitution with a minor. He died by suicide in jail in 2019 as he waited to go to trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
