The Justice Department is facing a deadline Friday to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex-trafficking offender who was friends with some of the world’s most powerful men before he died. Last month, Congress passed a bill mandating the documents be made public within 30 days of the law’s enactment, POLITICO reported.
President Trump signed the bill into law on Nov. 19, after reversing his prior position on its passage and recommending Republicans vote for the bill, giving his administration until Friday to release its files related to Epstein.
The DOJ has not given much information on how it will comply with the law, which says that the department must “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” in its possession related to Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The law also requires the DOJ to declassify any covered files “to the maximum extent possible.” The DOJ can redact or withhold records that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution,” but prohibits omissions “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”
Before signing the bill into law, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats, which has raised concerns that the administration may withhold or redact certain records, citing the active investigation as a justification.
Bondi said last month that the DOJ would “continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims.”
Epstein died of suicide in a New York City correctional facility in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. He pleaded guilty in 2018 in Florida to a state charge of procuring a female minor for prostitution.
Among those with whom Epstein associated was Trump and former Prince Andrew.
After Trump signed the bill into law, he accused Democrats of using “the Epstein issue,” which he has repeatedly referred to as a “hoax” during this term, in an effort to distract from his administration’s victories.
In July, the DOJ said that it had over 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence related to Epstein, including more than 10,000 photos and videos of pornography and illegal child sex abuse material.
Trending
- U.S. justifications for Iran war not discussed: Ongoing Iranian protection of al-Qaeda leaders
- Justice Department official says she personally observed ‘incompetence’ in Maricopa elections
- With landmark Voter ID legislation in limbo, gridlocked in Senate, Americans don’t seem to care
- GAO says DOE unable to ‘fully analyze’ why cost increases, delays occur with nuclear waste cleanup
- NASA aims to launch four astronauts on Artemis lunar mission on April 1
- Pentagon given 180-day deadline to remove Anthropic AI products from military systems
- WATCH: NBA Ref Slams Into Sideline Cameraman, Then Hits Him With A Death Glare
- REPORT: As a Public School Teacher, Texas Democrat James Talarico Had Students Write ‘Obama Memoirs’ and Encouraged Them to Watch the DNC
