Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files after fighting it for months

By SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump signed decree Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts Trump could have chosen to release several of the files on his own months ago Democrats have used the Epstein issue which affects them far more than the Republican Party in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories Trump announced in a social media post as he broadcasted he had signed the bill Gary Rush College Park MD holds a sign before a news conference on the Epstein files in front of the Capitol Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Mariam Zuhaib Sky Roberts brother of prominent Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre speaks as his wife Amanda holds her photograph during a news conference as the House prepares to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act at the Capitol in Washington Tuesday Nov Rep Marjorie Taylor-Greene R-Ga and Rep Thomas Massie R-Ky listen at right AP Photo J Scott Applewhite Rep Lauren Boebert R-Colo leaves the U S Capitol after voting in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson Rep Ro Khanna D-Calif speaks to reporters on the moves of the U S Capitol after voting in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson FILE In this July file photo Jeffrey Epstein center appears in court in West Palm Beach Fla Uma Sanghvi The Palm Beach Post via AP File Show Caption of Gary Rush College Park MD holds a sign before a news conference on the Epstein files in front of the Capitol Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Mariam Zuhaib Expand Now the bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein as well as any information about the scrutiny into his death in a federal prison in within days It allows for redactions about Epstein s casualties for ongoing federal investigations but DOJ cannot withhold information due to embarrassment reputational harm or political sensitivity It was a remarkable turn of events for what was once a farfetched effort to force the disclosure of occurrence files from an odd congressional coalition of Democrats one GOP antagonist of the president and a handful of erstwhile Trump loyalists As just now as last week the Trump administration even summoned one Republican proponent of releasing the files Rep Lauren Boebert of Colorado to the Situation Room to discuss the matter although she did not change her mind But over the weekend Trump did a sharp U-turn on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable He insisted the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the GOP agenda and indicated he requested to move on I just don t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we ve had Trump disclosed in a social media post Tuesday afternoon explaining the rationale for his abrupt about-face Related Articles Judge to proceed with contempt probe after US flew settlers to El Salvador prison in March Veteran FBI employee sues bureau after being fired over displaying a pride flag What s next once Trump signs bill releasing the Epstein files What to know about expanded work requirements about to kick in for SNAP Why Trump s plan to help GOP keep control of the House could backfire The House passed the ordinance on a - vote with Rep Clay Higgins R-La being the sole dissenter He argued that the bill s language could lead to the release of information on innocent people mentioned in the federal probe The Senate later approved it unanimously skipping a formal vote It s long been established that Trump had been friends with Epstein the disgraced financier who was close to the world s elite But the president has consistently reported he did not know of Epstein s crimes and had cut ties with him long ago Before Trump returned to the White House for a second term several of his closest political allies helped fuel conspiracy theories about the leadership s handling of the Epstein scenario asserting a cover-up of potentially incriminating information in those files