What are the Epstein files, and why does Trump appear in them?

Epstein files force political reckoning

In a dramatic shift, US President Donald Trump signed a Bill mandating the release of all records in the Justice Department’s possession related to Jeffrey Epstein, after months of facing political pressure over his own past associations with the disgraced financier.

The new “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” passed by Congress with bipartisan support, compels the Department of Justice to make public the full cache of Epstein-related documents — including any that reference or involve Mr Trump. By giving his assent, the President is presenting transparency as proof that he has “nothing to hide”, even as questions grow about what exactly the files contain and when the public will be able to see them.

The shift marks a stark contrast to his position earlier this year. Despite campaigning in 2024 on a promise to release the files, Trump had later dismissed them as a “hoax” and “boring”. Pressure intensified last week after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails referencing Trump among more than 20,000 subpoenaed documents from Epstein’s estate. With many Republicans signalling they would join Democrats in forcing disclosure, Trump’s endorsement appears aimed at avoiding a politically damaging defeat.

The “Epstein Files” broadly refer to a mix of documents tied to Epstein’s activities, including court filings, flight logs, contact lists, emails, and witness testimonies. Many stem from Virginia Giuffre’s 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, while other material has been released in phases by the Department of Justice, including large batches in January 2024 and February 2025 under Attorney General Pam Bondi.

These records contain the names of many high-profile individuals who encountered Epstein socially or professionally. Importantly, appearing in these files does not in itself indicate criminal conduct.

The documents originated from multiple criminal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including the 2008 Florida case, the 2019 federal sex-trafficking probe, and civil litigation. Material was gathered through property raids, witness interviews, and FBI evidence collection, resulting in hundreds of gigabytes of files, including flight logs, contact books, emails, and other records.

Over the years, portions of these materials entered the public domain. The House Oversight Committee released thousands of documents from Epstein’s estate, mostly emails, and previously a birthday book allegedly bearing Trump’s name. In February, the Department of Justice and the FBI declassified 341 pages of material, including flight logs and redacted contact books, which were shown to a group of right-wing influencers at the White House. A July DOJ–FBI memo indicated no further release of material, heightening political pressure and leading to the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

These releases, coupled with the appearance of high-profile names such as Donald Trump in flight logs and contact lists, intensified public and political interest in the files and their contents.

Trump is referenced in several categories of Epstein-related material.

Flight logs show that Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet seven times between 1993 and 1997. The trips were mainly between Palm Beach and New York, and some included Marla Maples, their daughter Tiffany, a nanny, and Epstein himself. Trump’s name also appears in Epstein’s contact book.

Witness testimony places Trump on Epstein-linked itineraries. Johanna Sjoberg recalled a 2001 diversion to Atlantic City, during which Epstein suggested visiting one of Trump’s casinos. She also noted that one underage girl could not enter due to ID issues. Giuffre, who was recruited from Mar-a-Lago at age 16 by Maxwell and later accused Epstein of trafficking her, repeatedly said she never saw any wrongdoing by Trump.

The contents of the unreleased Epstein Files remain largely unknown, though publicly available materials identify several high-profile individuals connected to Epstein, without implying misconduct. Court documents released in 2024 relating to Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, mention figures including former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Michael Jackson.

Flight logs released in September additionally name Elon Musk and Prince Andrew; Musk said Epstein invited him to the island but he declined, while Andrew has denied wrongdoing.

The most recent batch of emails from Epstein’s estate, released on 12 November, also references Larry Summers, Clinton’s former Treasury Secretary, and Steve Bannon, a former senior aide. Summers announced he would step back from public roles, taking responsibility for continued communications with Epstein. Bannon has not commented publicly regarding his mention.

While these documents reveal social and professional connections, appearing in the files does not constitute evidence of criminal conduct. The latest releases continue to attract political and media attention, highlighting Epstein’s wide network of contacts and the ongoing public interest in understanding the scope of his associations.

Among the most scrutinised documents are emails exchanged in 2011 between Epstein and Maxwell, in which Epstein wrote that Trump “has never once been mentioned”, even by a “police chief”. In another email sent to himself in 2019, Epstein said Trump “never got a massage” despite “coming to my house many times during that period”. The White House called the emails “selectively leaked” to smear the president.

With the Epstein Files Transparency Act now law, the DoJ must release the full set of federal records relating to Epstein and Maxwell within 30 days, in a searchable, downloadable format. This includes an estimated 80,000–100,000 pages gathered across multiple investigations, as well as all internal departmental communications concerning Epstein, his associates and his 2019 death in federal custody.

The Act allows limited exemptions. The DoJ may withhold:

Victims’ personally identifiable information

Child sexual abuse material

Classified national-security or foreign-policy material

Information linked to active investigations or prosecutions

Material associated with ongoing counterintelligence investigations

These exemptions have drawn concern from several Republican lawmakers, who warn that they could be applied too broadly and potentially used to justify withholding politically sensitive material.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the department will comply “with maximum transparency while protecting victims”. The FBI has previously stated it “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”, though a federal prosecutor has recently been directed to examine Epstein’s links to several political figures.

To reinforce transparency, the Act requires the DoJ to publish reports within 15 days of each release, detailing any withheld items and the reasons for redactions. The law explicitly bars withholding information due to embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity.

The timeframe for how the phased release will unfold remains unspecified.

(With inputs from agencies)