Donald Trump Says He’s Signed Epstein Files Bill, Ordering DOJ to Release Documents

President Donald Trump says he has signed legislation directing the release of government records tied to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier who was a convicted s** offender and accused s** trafficker.

“I have just signed the bill to release the Epstein files,” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post on Wednesday, Nov. 19, adding, “This latest Hoax will backfire on the Democrats just as all of the rest have!”

Trump’s announcement came after the Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 18, to approve the House’s version of the measure and send it to his desk. Earlier that day, the House passed the bill in a rare 427-1 vote, with only Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins opposing the move to make the files public.

The legislation follows months of bipartisan pressure on the Justice Department to release documents related to the case, including repeated calls from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican who has increasingly broken with Trump even as she has pushed aggressively for greater transparency around the Epstein investigation.

According to an official House summary, the bill directs the Justice Department to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.”

Despite the strong mandate, the Justice Department will not be forced to release everything. The law allows the DOJ to withhold information that is classified, could reveal the identities of victims, or would interfere with an ongoing federal investigation.

However, the bill specifies that records cannot be withheld or redacted “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”

Previously, the Justice Department said it kept certain Epstein-related materials under seal because they contained images of victims and child s**ual abuse material, and because courts had ordered some information sealed to avoid exposing “any additional third parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing,” as reported by The New York Times.

The timing of when more documents will be released is still uncertain. Under the new law, the Justice Department has 30 days to comply, and Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Nov. 19 that she intends to meet that deadline.

“We will continue to follow the law, again, while protecting victims, but also providing maximum transparency,” she told reporters.

When the records are made public, they are expected to include materials related to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as flight logs, travel records, and details about “individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein,” according to the bill’s summary.

These forthcoming records are separate from the emails released earlier in the month by the House Oversight Committee, which originated from Epstein’s estate. In those messages, Epstein referred to Trump multiple times, describing him as “borderline insane” and claiming he “knew about the girls.”

Signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act represents a notable shift for Trump, who has long tried to distance himself from his former associate and previously criticized congressional efforts to unseal more Epstein-related documents.

In the days leading up to the vote—after it became clear the House had enough support to pass the legislation—Trump reversed course and publicly urged House Republicans to back the release of the files.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Nov. 16, he said he had decided to support the bill because “we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax.”