US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a congressional push to unseal thousands of pages from the federal probe into Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex trafficker who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday evening, Trump declared he would sign any legislation reaching his desk that compels the Justice Department to release the long-withheld materials, signaling a potential breakthrough in a saga that has fueled conspiracy theories and demands for transparency for years.
The abrupt shift marks a departure from Mr. Trump’s earlier reluctance to endorse such measures, which some allies in Congress had interpreted as a signal to stall similar bills. Just days prior, House Republican leaders had hesitated on advancing the proposal amid internal party debates over the political risks of delving into Epstein’s web of high-profile connections, which included politicians, celebrities, and business moguls from across the ideological spectrum.
President Trump’s intervention appeared to tip the scales, with sources close to the White House indicating the president viewed the move as a way to reclaim the narrative on accountability and counter ongoing scrutiny of his own past social ties to Epstein. ‘I think it’s time the American people see everything,’ Trump told journalists, emphasizing that the files could expose “a lot of bad actors” without specifying names. He framed the endorsement as consistent with his administration’s commitment to draining the swamp, drawing parallels to his first-term efforts to declassify documents related to the Russia investigation.
The comments came amid a flurry of weekend developments, including Mr. Trump’s separate remarks on foreign policy toward Venezuela, but the Epstein issue quickly dominated headlines.
Epstein’s case has remained a lightning rod for public interest since his 2008 plea deal in Florida, which granted him leniency despite allegations of abusing dozens of underage girls. His 2019 arrest on federal charges reignited outrage, particularly after flight logs from his private jet, dubbed the ‘Lolita Express,’ reportedly revealed passengers like former President Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
While some documents have trickled out through civil lawsuits, including a 2023 batch naming associates like magician David Copperfield, vast troves of investigative records remain sealed by the DOJ, citing privacy concerns and ongoing related probes.
The bill in question, sponsored by a bipartisan duo of lawmakers, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), would mandate the release of all non-classified materials within 90 days of enactment. It gained unexpected momentum last week when a House committee advanced it on a voice vote, but GOP leadership had wavered, fearing the disclosures could ensnare allies or revive old scandals.
President Trump’s Sunday remarks, captured on video as he boarded Air Force One, prompted immediate reactions from both sides of the aisle. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced late Sunday that the chamber would take up the measure as early as Tuesday, barring any last-minute procedural hurdles.
Democrats, meanwhile, expressed cautious optimism, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeting that ‘transparency shouldn’t be partisan, let’s get this done.’
Critics, however, questioned the timing and motives. Political analysts suggested Trump’s about-face may stem from recent polling showing Epstein-related distrust eroding support among independent voters, or perhaps a strategic deflection from his administration’s early challenges, including stalled nominations and economic headwinds.
Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 on trafficking charges and currently appealing her 20-year sentence, has long claimed the full files would vindicate her by implicating a broader network, an assertion echoed in online forums but dismissed by prosecutors.
As the House prepares to vote, advocates for Epstein’s victims, including the nonprofit National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, hailed Trump’s stance as a ‘long-overdue victory.’ Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, posted on social media – ‘Finally, sunlight on the shadows. Hold them accountable.’ Yet legal experts warn that even if passed, the bill could face court challenges from those named in the files, potentially delaying public access for months.
With President Trump’s endorsement injecting fresh urgency, the Epstein files, estimated to span over 10,000 pages, stand on the cusp of exposure, promising to reshape conversations about power, privilege, and predation in America’s elite circles.