US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will sign a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a sharp reversal from his earlier opposition to the measure.
The House is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday, though its path in the Senate remains uncertain. Until recently, Republicans were split on whether to support the legislation, but Trump’s endorsement has shifted expectations, with some lawmakers now anticipating overwhelming backing.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that neither he nor his party is connected to Epstein, instead claiming the scandal belongs solely to Democrats. “We have nothing to do with Epstein; the Democrats do. All of his friends were Dems… I hate to see that deflect from the great job we’ve done, so I’m all for it," he said. He added, “It’s really a Democrat problem. The Dems were Epstein’s friends."
Speaking during a White House FIFA World Cup 2026 Task Force meeting, Trump said he would sign the legislation if Congress sends it to his desk. His voice was noticeably hoarse, though he assured reporters, “I feel great.”
Later at a McDonald’s summit in Washington, Trump shifted to economic messaging. “My pledge to every family and every small business is that I will not rest until you are richer, stronger, more successful, happier, so you've gotten a piece of the American dream,” he said.
A political U-turn
Trump’s embrace of the bill came after it became clear that House Republicans planned to move forward regardless of his earlier objections. According to CNN, the president realized he had little chance of stopping the measure and risked an embarrassing defeat on the House floor. A discharge petition guaranteeing a vote secured 218 signatures last week, including four Republicans.
“Trump reversed his position and gave his party permission to back the bill he spent months trying to bury and broke with a one-time ally over,” CNN reported. On Monday, he told lawmakers they “can do whatever they want,” adding, “All I want is for people to recognize the great job that I've done… So I'm all for it.”
Epstein's documents are under renewed scrutiny
Congressional interest in Epstein’s network has intensified in 2025, coinciding with the release of new records. Trump and Epstein had social ties in the 1990s and early 2000s through Mar-a-Lago and elite circles in Palm Beach and New York.
Trump has long claimed he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate behavior, particularly after Epstein allegedly attempted to recruit a teenage club member and poach spa employees. Epstein’s membership ended in 2007, a detail confirmed by multiple sources.
In September, the House Oversight Committee published documents from Epstein’s estate, including emails and a “birthday book,” containing more than a thousand references to Trump, along with an entry bearing a disputed signature. Trump denies any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and has framed the release of all files as a matter of transparency.
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