President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are under renewed scrutiny over their campaign promises to release Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Since returning to office, the administration has resisted calls to make the documents public, provoking criticism from both Republicans and Democrats and raising fresh questions about Trump’s past associations with Epstein.
Attorney General Pam Bondi first acknowledged in February that the files were under review, clarifying months later that she was referring to the case files themselves rather than any alleged client list.
Despite her assurances, the Justice Department’s distribution of "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" binders to conservative bloggers and influencers in late February, without informing White House officials, drew immediate attention.
Pressure intensified in May when the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets formally requested the release of the files. Bondi missed the May 16 deadline for response, further stoking frustration on Capitol Hill.
In July, the DOJ and FBI issued a joint statement confirming their review found no evidence of a client list or new grounds for investigating uncharged parties.
The release of purported footage of Epstein’s final moments in custody was later found to include missing segments, prompting condemnation from several conservative figures.
Trump defended Bondi on social media, praising her "fantastic job" and urging supporters to cease criticism.
Efforts by Republican Rep Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep Ro Khanna to push a House discharge petition to release the files gained traction but initially fell short of the 218 signatures required.
During this period, Trump continued to downplay the contents of the files, suggesting they were produced by political adversaries.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in late July. A transcript of the non-sworn interview released a month later showed Maxwell denying the existence of a client list.
Additional controversy arose in September when House Oversight Committee Democrats published a 238-page "50th birthday book" for Epstein, allegedly featuring a letter from Trump. The president denied authorship.
In November, more than 20,000 emails from the Epstein estate were partially released, some implying Trump spent time with victims at Epstein’s residence. The White House dismissed the documents as "selectively leaked" to misrepresent Trump.
The push to release the files gained momentum on 12 November when Arizona Democratic Rep Adelita Grijalva was sworn in, providing the final signature needed to move the discharge petition forward.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced plans to bring legislation mandating the release of the Epstein files to a floor vote next week.
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