THIS DAWN — United States President Donald Trump has formally signed into law the “Epstein Files Transparency Act”.
The landmark measure is to compel the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to release extensive documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his wide-ranging network.
The bill sailed through Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The House of Representatives approved the measure by a 427–1 vote and the Senate followed with unanimous consent.
Unclassified records, documents, communications to be released
Under the new law, the DOJ must publish all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession concerning Epstein.
This includes, where feasible, classified materials — in a searchable and downloadable format within 30 days of enactment.
The legislation also prohibits any withholding or redaction of records based purely on “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity,” explicitly including public figures or foreign dignitaries.
However, the law allows the DOJ to withhold or redact information in narrowly defined circumstances.
This may involve active investigations, victim-identifying data, materials depicting child sexual abuse, and other privacy-sensitive content.
Scepticism about Trump’s motives
President Trump, who had previously resisted the legislation, hailed the signing on social media
He declared: “I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!”
While the bill’s passage appeared to reflect a shift in the administration’s stance, it did little to quell scepticism about Trump’s motives.
The scepticism followed his long-standing personal and public associations with Epstein and his initial opposition to their disclosure.
Justice Department Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the department would “continue to follow the law… while protecting victims”.
Bondi emphasised that there may be legitimate reasons to delay or withhold some content.
Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, issued a warning to the DOJ against using permissible exceptions to essentially bury the files, insisting on timely and thorough compliance.
30-day deadline
For survivors of Epstein’s trafficking network and broader watchdog groups, the newly signed law marks a potentially decisive step toward accountability and transparency.
Thousands of pages of internal records, flight logs, communications and other evidence that remained sealed for years now face disclosure.
The 30-day deadline means the public may begin seeing portions of the material by mid-December 2025.
With the law now in effect, all eyes turn to the DOJ’s next steps — including how comprehensively it will comply.
The world also waits with bated breath to see whether the release will truly expose the full extent of Epstein’s network and its links to powerful individuals.
