On Thursday, November 20, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had signed a law requiring the disclosure of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Signs the Law
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had signed a bill that would mandate the release of documents concerning Jeffrey Epstein. He justified his action by citing alleged ties between the convicted sex offender and Democrats that could come to light. According to unofficial Reuters reports, the White House attempted to influence senators to delay the vote on the document release, but the effort failed.
Congressional Support
The bill was backed by 427 members of the House of Representatives, the majority of whom are Republicans, with only one congressman, Clay Higgins, opposed. The Senate passed the measure by a unanimous vote. A presidential veto could be overridden with a two‑thirds majority in both chambers, making the veto unlikely. Trump emphasized that the vote was almost unanimous, noting his outreach to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune that weekend.
Opposition, Statements and Statements by the DOJ and FBI
As noted by The Guardian, Trump had promised to declassify the records during his presidential campaign. In July, he suggested the administration should focus on other matters, urging not to waste time and energy on Epstein. The Department of Justice and the FBI stated that, during the investigation, there was no basis to reconsider the disclosure of the materials. Some Republicans and Democrats joined forces to force a vote.
White House Response
The White House issued a statement saying Trump never opposed the release of Epstein’s records; he opposed Republicans being drawn into a Democratic trap by focusing on that issue rather than the historic tax cuts signed into law. The statement also highlighted that, in five months, no illegal immigrants entered the country and listed other achievements of the Trump administration. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson noted that Trump and Epstein were long‑time tenants of the same apartment complex.
