Current with Claire - Epstein Records to be Made Public

By Claire Brothers

Political Scientist and Analyst

CU Boulder Political Science Class of 2023

Following years of tension and arguments, the United States Congress has voted to release the Epstein Files to the public. All “unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ's possession as well as materials that relate to Ghislaine Maxwell, flight logs and travel records, and individuals named or referenced (including government officials) in connection with the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein” (H.R.4405 - Congress.gov) are to be released. After 20,000 documents were released last week (Nov 12, 2025) in the latest tranche, the uproar increased, intensifying pressure on government officials to release the files in their entirety. The bill, H.R. 4405, “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” passed in the House of Representatives 427-1 and in the Senate with a unanimous vote almost immediately after (Politico). The lone “No” vote belonged to Representative Clay Higgins from Louisiana, who stated that his reasoning was privacy concerns (Politico). His official statement on X was, “It abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America … As written, this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc. If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt” (X via Politico). 

The dramatic shift from the Republican establishment came as a shock to many around the nation, following months of pushback from the White House. Democrats and Republicans went from a total gridlock on the decision to release the files to an almost unanimous decision seemingly overnight. The decision to come together appeared to revolve around justice for the victims. “This is about giving the American people the transparency they’ve been crying for,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated before asking for approval of the bill, “Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough” (Politico). Similarly, Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky stated, “We have a chance today to make something happen, something that has not happened and should have happened decades ago, and that is to get justice for these victims and survivors and transparency for America” (Politico). The statements from these lawmakers bring some peace to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who feel as though they have suffered years of institutional betrayal at the hands of the government and justice system. These survivors have had their boots on the ground at the Capitol in DC for months, pushing for the passage of H.R. 4405 (BBC News). 

Once President Trump has signed the bill into law, which he has promised to do, the Justice Department has 30 days to release all files and documents related to Epstein and Maxwell (BBC News). However, Attorney General Pam Bondi may refuse to release certain documents due to concerns about posing risks to underage victims or interfering with any ongoing investigation (BBC News). Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, addressed a few of these concerns, calling on the Senate to add more privacy protections for victims and whistleblowers (Politico).

With a hard deadline of December 19, 2025, for the Department of Justice to release all documents, the lasting effects of the Epstein files have yet to be observed. Justice for the victims remains the key focus of the release for many people and continues to motivate reactions worldwide. Many Americans have fought hard for this day to come, ensuring justice for the victims and transparency for the American public. A divisive issue in American politics for years now, the bipartisan release of these files is a step in the right direction for justice for the victims, as well as open communication with American citizens. 

Sources: 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/18/house-approves-epstein-files-bill-in-near-unanimous vote-00656764 

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/18/congress/clay-higgins-no-vote-epstein-00657 430 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cvgmrrrrlvmt