The countdown has begun for the release of controversial Epstein files tonight. The US Department of Justice is scheduled to the release records linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The move follows years of public debate, speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding documents allegedly detailing Epstein's associates and activities.
Momentum for disclosure gathered pace last month when lawmakers in Congress overwhelmingly passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law on November 19, triggering a 30-day countdown for the Justice Department to make public most of its records connected to Epstein-related investigations.
Lawmakers backing the measure have said the disclosures could help clarify Epstein's connections with influential figures. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Deadline for release
Under the law, the Justice Department has 30 days from enactment to publish the records. Since the act was signed on November 19, the deadline for release falls on December 19. The legislation does not specify the exact timing or format of the disclosures.
The law, however, allows the department to temporarily withhold certain materials. Documents can be held back if their release could interfere with an active federal investigation or an ongoing prosecution. Records may also be withheld if they risk violating victims' privacy or contain sensitive material related to child sexual abuse.
Because of these exemptions, the Trump administration and Attorney General Pam Bondi could potentially limit disclosure by citing a federal investigation launched in November.
Developments so far
Even ahead of the deadline, some Epstein-related materials have already been made public. On December 10, a US district court judge in Manhattan ordered the release of records from a grand jury investigation involving Epstein. A separate judge issued a similar ruling a day earlier in the case of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee have also released several sets of images in recent weeks. On December 3, Democratic lawmakers published photographs taken from Epstein's private island, showing various rooms and items found on the property.
Another batch of 89 images was released on December 12, including photographs of sex toys and bondage equipment, as well as images of Epstein alongside high-profile figures such as Trump and former president Bill Clinton. On December 18, lawmakers released additional images, featuring foreign passports with identifying details removed and excerpts from the novel Lolita written on parts of a woman's body.
As the deadline approaches, expectations remain high, though questions persist over how much of the Justice Department's Epstein files will ultimately be made public.
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