Trump Signs Bill Requiring Justice Department to Release Epstein Documents Within 30 Days

US President Donald Trump announced that he has signed a bill requiring the Justice Department to release documents related to the case of the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

Xinhua News Agency reported that Trump posted on social media on Wednesday (November 19): "The truth about the Democrats and their connection to Epstein may soon be revealed, because I have signed a bill to release Epstein's documents!" In the post, Trump again criticized Democrats for having "close ties" to Epstein, claiming that the Epstein affair has had a far greater impact on Democrats than on Republicans.

Previously, the bill passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. According to documents on the House website, the bill requires the Justice Department to release all non-classified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein; it also allows the Justice Department to retain certain information, such as victims' personal information and materials that may affect ongoing investigations.

Attorney General Bondi said the documents will be released within 30 days. However, sources familiar with the matter point out that although the president has signed the bill, his administration may still try to prevent the explosive details in the Epstein files from being released by redacting content, procedural delays, or ongoing federal investigations. The Justice Department frequently refuses to release information, citing the need to protect ongoing investigations.

Senate Democratic Leader Schumer accused Trump of trying to cover up the truth about the Epstein documents in a Senate speech on November 18: “This is not a contest between Democrats and Republicans, nor is it a contest between Congress and the president. This is about giving the American people the transparency they have always craved. This is about holding everyone involved in the Epstein circle accountable.”

Jeffrey Epstein had close ties with a large number of prominent figures in American politics and business. Reuters reported that the documents may reveal more about Epstein's activities. Before his conviction in 2008 for soliciting underage prostitution, he associated closely with prominent figures such as Trump. Trump, troubled by the scandal for months, promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein to his supporters.

Epstein died in prison in August 2019 after being arrested on suspicion of sex crimes; his death was ruled a suicide. On July 7th of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI issued a memo concluding that there was no credible evidence that Epstein possessed a "client list" used to blackmail prominent individuals, no evidence that Epstein died by murder, and that no further Epstein case documents would be released.

Recently, the Republican Party has been divided over whether to support the release of Epstein case documents. On November 16th, Trump reversed his previous stance, urging Republican members of the House of Representatives to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein case documents, stating, "We have nothing to hide." Multiple media outlets analyze that Trump's 180-degree turn in attitude stemmed from the fact that many Republican members of the House of Representatives, disregarding directives from higher-ups within the party, were willing to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein case documents.