President Donald Trump mentioned in a social media put up on Wednesday night time that he signed the Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata invoice, once more accusing Democrats of associating with the disgraced financier and saying alleged hyperlinks between celebration members and Epstein “will quickly be revealed.”
The president repeated his assertion that the Epstein recordsdata are a distraction from his agenda and what he has known as a Democratic hoax will “backfire on the Democrats simply as the entire relaxation have!”
Two congressional aides instructed ABC Information on Wednesday that the invoice was transmitted to the White Home at 4:38 p.m. Wednesday.
Underneath the measure, the Justice Division has 30 days to launch the supplies as soon as the president indicators it. If Trump signed the invoice Wednesday, the deadline for launch can be Dec. 19.
On this July 2, 2020, file picture, performing US Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, broadcasts costs towards Ghislaine Maxwell throughout a press convention in New York.
Johannes Eisele/AFP by way of Getty Pictures, FILE
Forward of Trump’s announcement, Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi instructed ABC Information Wednesday that the DOJ “will comply with the legislation.”
Bondi additionally mentioned that “new data” had come to the division relating to the Epstein recordsdata, however didn’t elaborate on what the brand new data was.
It’s unclear when — and even whether or not — the general public will see the recordsdata, or how full they is perhaps, because the invoice contains a number of exceptions to a full launch that might complicate or delay disclosure.
The invoice says the DOJ “could withhold or redact” the identities and “private and medical recordsdata,” of Epstein’s victims. Bondi has mentioned the division will “proceed to comply with the legislation whereas defending victims.”
The DOJ can even withhold materials that “would represent a clearly unwarranted invasion of private privateness” or “depicts or accommodates little one sexual abuse,” based on the invoice.
Nonetheless, the invoice does include language that stipulates “no file shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the idea of embarrassment, reputational hurt, or political sensitivity, together with to any authorities official, public determine, or international dignitary”
The measure additionally states the lawyer common could withhold or redact data that “would jeopardize an lively federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, supplied that such withholding is narrowly tailor-made and short-term.”
That might embody any data referring to the brand new probe of alleged connections prime Democrats needed to Epstein that Trump ordered Bondi to pursue.
For any supplies it chooses to withhold or redact, the DOJ is required to stipulate their justifications for doing so inside 15 days of their public launch.
Epstein abuse survivor Lisa Phillips speaks throughout a information convention with lawmakers on the Epstein Information Transparency Act exterior the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Heather Diehl/Getty Pictures
In the meantime, Epstein survivors are persevering with their push for the discharge of the recordsdata.
“This isn’t political for us,” Dani Bensky instructed ABC Information. “It is a survivor problem and we’re grateful for all of the people who got here collectively to make this occur. We’re cautiously optimistic that the discharge will deal with transparency in order that the evil doers can not stay within the shadows.”
Jena-Lisa Jones mentioned, “What an amazing day for all survivors. Now, let’s have a look at what occurs subsequent.”
ABC Information’ Allison Pecorin, John Parkinson, Lauren Peller, Rebecca Gelpi, Michelle Stoddart, Fritz Farrow, Luke Barr, Alex Mallin, Ivan Pereira and Jim Hill contributed to this report.
