By Graham Kates / Updated on: November 19, 2025 / CBS News
The Senate and House passed bipartisan legislation requiring the Justice Department to release a large set of documents tied to investigations of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. President Trump signed the bill, clearing the way for the attorney general to make public all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials in the possession of the Justice Department, the FBI and U.S. attorneys’ offices within 30 days of the law taking effect.
The materials would come from two federal investigations — in Florida and New York — spanning more than a decade. Earlier releases of tens of thousands of pages by congressional investigators have focused attention on Epstein’s global social circle of wealthy, powerful men and raised questions about his 2019 death in custody. The new disclosures could include bank records, correspondence, witness interviews and files recovered from Epstein’s electronic devices.
Columbia Law School professor and former federal prosecutor Daniel Richman said recent House Oversight releases offer a preview, showing emails and texts to and from Epstein that may reveal “troublingly close relationships” with notable figures. But Richman cautioned that close ties do not necessarily indicate chargeable criminal conduct, and he expects federal prosecutors would have pursued substantial leads.
Former Epstein attorney David Schoen warned that piecemeal releases could damage reputations of people who socialized or did business with Epstein without involvement in his crimes. He pointed to former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, who announced he was stepping back from public commitments amid scrutiny of correspondence published that suggested awkward, noncriminal exchanges. There is no evidence Summers engaged in illegal conduct.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the Senate to amend the law to address survivors’ privacy and the risk of disclosing sensitive information. In July, the Justice Department and FBI issued an unsigned memo describing a review of files that, they said, contain images and videos of victims who are minors or appear to be minors and thousands of downloaded videos and images of illegal child sexual abuse material. The agencies argued that further disclosure of such material would not be appropriate.
Richman expressed skepticism about the Justice Department’s decisions on withholding documents, warning that normal withholding practices could be used selectively to protect allies and harm political opponents. The July agency review also stated it had found no incriminating “client list” and did not uncover evidence that would predicate investigations against uncharged third parties.
Victim advocate and actress Alicia Arden urged lawmakers to release the files, asking why anyone would vote against disclosure and calling for transparency about who else may have aided Epstein.
A recently announced investigation may complicate release efforts. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she asked U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to open an investigation after President Trump requested probes into several Democrats and financial institutions. Critics worry the new probe could be cited to withhold materials if they are deemed part of an ongoing investigation. Rep. Thomas Massie, who led efforts to bring the bill to the House floor, said he fears such investigations could be used as a pretext to block disclosures. Attorney Gloria Allred echoed concerns that political conflict could obscure survivors’ access to answers and records.
As the Justice Department prepares the mandated review and release, questions remain about how agencies will balance public interest and survivors’ privacy, what materials will be redacted or withheld, and whether disclosures will illuminate previously unknown relationships or criminal conduct connected to Epstein.
