Despite strong bipartisan support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for a bill mandating the disclosure of information regarding Jeffrey Epstein, some lawmakers are concerned that President Donald Trump may find ways to circumvent the bill’s purpose and avoid revealing details about the deceased sex offender’s actions.
Their worry stems from the possibility that the Department of Justice (DOJ) could use a legal loophole, which was initiated by Trump last Friday, to prevent the release of crucial documents related to its inquiries into Epstein’s sexual exploitation of minors.
President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch an investigation into Epstein’s ties with three prominent Democrats: former president Bill Clinton, former treasury secretary Larry Summers, and LinkedIn’s founder, Reid Hoffman.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, approved by Congress on Tuesday, permits the DOJ to hold back or redact any records that could jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.
Republican Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the bill in the House, expressed apprehension over Trump’s actions, suggesting that the administration might be using new investigations as a pretext to withhold the files, implicating influential individuals connected to the president.
Once signed by Trump, expected on Wednesday, the bill mandates the DOJ to release all unclassified materials within 30 days regarding its investigations into Epstein’s criminal activities.
The Trump administration had the authority to release this information independently but had been resistant since July when the DOJ announced halting further disclosures on the Epstein probe, claiming to have no client list.
Advocates for transparency suspect that the White House may continue to delay the full disclosure of files, given the administration’s past reluctance. Attorney Spencer Kuvin, representing some of Epstein’s victims, voiced concerns about Trump’s recent investigations, hinting at a potential hidden agenda to withhold information from the public.
If the administration chooses to withhold materials citing ongoing investigations, Kuvin anticipates survivor lawsuits to compel the release of such information.
The act stipulates that any withholding of information related to ongoing investigations must be temporary and narrowly tailored to the circumstances.
A survivor of Epstein’s abuse, Jena-Lisa Jones, who claims to have voted for Trump, urged the president not to weaponize the files against political adversaries, emphasizing the bipartisan and nonpartisan nature of addressing sexual abuse issues.
In a news conference on Capitol Hill, Jones implored President Trump to prioritize moral integrity and support the disclosure of the files without politicizing the matter.