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In less than 48 hours, Donald Trump’s justice department must release most of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein in its possession. Last month, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of those materials by 19 December, except in narrow cases where they would jeopardize current investigations, harm national security or foreign policy goals, or reveal information about Epstein’s victims.
Since Trump signed the legislation, his administration has been silent on its progress. Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers asked Pam Bondi, the attorney general, for a briefing on the department of justice’s progress, but she did not provide one. Two Democratic senators among that group subsequently pledged to block some civilian nominees, because they were concerned the administration “is gearing up to disregard the law we led the fight in the Senate to pass, which overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Congress”.
It’s not clear what remedy could follow if the justice department does not heed the law mandating disclosure, though such a move would surely provoke a political firestorm. If the files are released, they could contain hundreds of thousands of pages related to investigations into the late sex trafficker, including additional victims’ claims and the names of his high-profile associates. The documents might also lift the veil on how Epstein – who counted Trump and the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor among his powerful friends – evaded justice for decades.
Many of Trump’s far-right supporters ascribe to conspiracy theories that Epstein evaded justice because of his connections to influential men they believe participated in a cabal of youth sex-trafficking. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump vowed to release the government-held Epstein files and doubled down on this promise early in his second term as president.
But in July, Trump’s justice department issued a memo claiming there was no Epstein client list and said: “While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s name appeared multiple times in Epstein files held by the justice department.
Since then, the administration has failed to make meaningful disclosures. In response to administration inaction, Congress gave the green light to legislation in late November mandating that Trump’s DoJ release all Epstein files – with few exceptions – within 30 days. Trump signed this bill into law on 19 November.
Here are some of the key moments from this year that have led to this new release of files.
BackgroundCivil litigation and plea deals
Epstein received a sweetheart deal from Florida prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to plead guilty to two state-level prostitution charges despite credible evidence he had abused multiple teen girls. Although Epstein had to register as a sex offender under this deal, he landed a non-prosecution agreement that shielded him from federal prosecution. Despite being a registered sex offender, Epstein lived a largely unencumbered life until late 2018, when the Miami Herald published Julie K Brown’s lengthy investigation into his charmed plea agreement.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking crimes. He died in jail while awaiting his Manhattan federal court trial. The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 for her role in Epstein’s abuse of teen girls. Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021.
Questions have lingered about why it took so long to pursue justice against Epstein, and about the circumstances of his death in jail, which authorities ruled a suicide. Meanwhile, numerous documents in Epstein-related civil litigation have been unsealed over the years.
February 2025
21 FebruaryPam Bondi claims to have information on Epstein’s clients
Trump’s attorney general claimed on Fox News she had Epstein’s alleged client list. “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review,” Bondi said. “That’s been a directive by President Trump.” Bondi had previously voiced support of releasing the purported client list, saying in 2024: “It should have come out a long time ago.”
27 FebruaryBondi releases ‘first phase’ of Epstein files
Bondi announced that her office had released Epstein-related files. This initial release, Bondi’s office said, “largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the US government”. Bondi said she received some 200 pages of documents, which were mostly flight logs, contacts and victims’ names. Bondi also claimed a “source” told her that the FBI’s New York field office had “thousands” more documents and demanded they be released.
July 2025
17 JulyWall Street Journal reports on Epstein ‘birthday book’
The Journal reported that Trump wrote a saucy note to Epstein, with a sketch of a nude woman, for his 50th birthday album in 2003. According to the newspaper, the drawing included a naked woman with the word “Donald” signed under her pelvis. There is also dialogue between two men where Trump reportedly says, “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” and closed by saying, “May every day be another wonderful secret.” The exchange also said: “Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?” On 18 July, Trump sued the Journal over the article.
17 JulyTrump demands release of Epstein grand jury files
While Trump condemned the intense public discourse surrounding Epstein, calling it a “ridiculous amount of publicity”, he called for the release of grand jury testimony in these cases. “I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” Trump stated on social media. “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
Judges ultimately denied the requests.
August 2025
22 AugustGhislaine Maxwell interview transcript released
As calls for releasing the Epstein file persisted, the justice department released transcripts of deputy attorney general Todd Blanche’s sit-down with Ghislaine Maxwell a month prior. Maxwell’s statements generally bolstered Trump’s efforts to create space between him and Epstein. “I think [Trump and Epstein] were friendly like people are in social settings. I don’t – I don’t think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the president in any of – I don’t recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance,” Maxwell told Blanche.
“I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting,” she also commented, referencing the means through which Epstein abused numerous teen girls.
September 2025
2 SeptemberHouse oversight committee releases 33,000 pages of files
The House released more than 33,000 pages related to Epstein and Maxwell. There is bodycam footage from law enforcement searches, and police interviews, but most of the release contained information that was already public in court filings and other records. Robert Garcia, the top Democratic representative on the oversight committee, denounced Republicans for disclosing information that was already known. “The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to ‘release’ were already mostly public information. To the American people – don’t let this fool you,” he said.
8 SeptemberHouse Democrats release Epstein birthday book
Oversight Democrats made public the book reported by the Journal. The 238-page book contained Trump’s alleged birthday missive to Epstein. This collection of celebratory letters also featured a second reference to Trump that was not initially known. There is a photo showing Epstein, standing near palm trees, toting an oversized cheque for $22,500. Trump’s signature is on the giant cheque.
November 2025
13 NovemberLarge tranches of Epstein emails released
The House released large tranches of Epstein emails with dueling political implications for Trump. The massive disclosure started when House oversight Democrats released an email which they said spurred questions about Trump’s relationship with Epstein. In one email from January 2019, Epstein told columnist Michael Wolff that “of course” Trump “knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop”.
Trump has claimed that Epstein “stole” young women employees from the president’s Mar-a-Lago club. In another released missive, Epstein told Maxwell in 2011 that Trump had been around one of his victims for hours but did not discuss this. “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump,” he said.
Republican representatives later released thousands of emails gleaned from Epstein’s estate that seemed more politically beneficial to the beleaguered president, as they suggested acrimony. In a 2018 email, Epstein said Trump was “borderline insane”. Multiple high-profile figures were ensnared in the GOP release, such as former treasury secretary Larry Summers. He announced he would be stepping back from public life after documents showed him communicating with Epstein, who described himself as Summers’ “wing man”. The documents also showed that Epstein communicated with top Maga figure Steve Bannon about the former’s legal woes.
December 2025
3 DecemberHouse Democrats disclose photos of Epstein’s private island
Congressional Democrats released photos and videos from Epstein’s US Virgin Islands estate. While these photos did little to provide insight into Epstein’s crimes or potential accomplices, they provided a look into his home. These images include pictures of bedrooms and an office, as well as a chalkboard with the words “fin”, “intellectual”, “deception” and “power”. There are also several snapshots of a dentist’s chair, with masks mounted to the wall. Per the New York Times, Epstein’s last girlfriend was a dentist.
12 DecemberHouse Democrats release photos of Epstein and powerful associates
Democrats in the House published photos from Epstein’s estate. In addition to Epstein, the images included photos of Trump, Woody Allen, and Bill Gates. Some of these photos have previously been public. These images were disclosed without captions or context. Other photos released in this cache include images of sex toys.
