Republicans in the House are ending their Christmas work period a day earlier than planned—just before the Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to release a new batch of records related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A floor update from Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts says the House will take its final votes on Thursday afternoon. That shifts the schedule from the GOP’s previously announced plan, which had kept the chamber in session through Friday.
The change comes as the DOJ faces a deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Donald Trump on November 19. The law gives Attorney General Pam Bondi 30 days to make public all unclassified Epstein-related materials.
Newsweek has contacted the DOJ through its website and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s Washington office by phone outside regular hours for comment.
Why It Matters
There’s no evidence the earlier recess was designed to interfere with the document release—or that the DOJ’s deadline will change because of it. Still, some Democratic lawmakers and online critics argue the timing is notable, citing past resistance from GOP leadership to broader transparency around the Epstein case.
What To Know
Under the bill’s text, Bondi has until Friday to release unclassified materials held by the DOJ, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. attorneys’ offices related to investigations involving Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The records are expected to include information tied to travel, individuals connected to the pair, and Epstein’s death in 2019.
The legislation is designed to require a wide-ranging release, limiting redactions that might be made for “embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity” involving officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries. Redactions are still permitted to protect victims’ identities and to avoid jeopardizing active investigations or prosecutions, as long as they’re paired with written explanations.
Trump referenced the bill’s implications when announcing he had signed it, posting to Truth Social: “Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed.” He had previously opposed the measure but reversed course after backlash from victims and members of his party. The legislation then passed both chambers with ease.
Bondi has said she intends to meet the deadline, telling ABC she planned to comply with the law’s timeline. Even so, some Democrats have pointed to the early House adjournment as suspicious.
“Like I said: view all political developments for the rest of the week in light of the fact that the Epstein Files are supposed to be released on Friday,” New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “House Republicans just suddenly canceled Congressional session Friday and are sending everyone home Thursday evening.”
What People Are Saying
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking at a November press conference alongside Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, said: “We’re going to protect victims, and the law as written allows us to do that. You know, the law has carveouts to protect victims and to protect information surrounding victims, which is what we do, not only in this case, but in but in every case.”
California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who introduced the bill in the House, posted: “Epstein files released Friday because of my & [Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie’s] Epstein Transparency Act, and House cancels session that day. Coincidence?”
What Happens Next
Congress is set to return after the Christmas break on January 6.
