Files will likely feed more questions and conspiracy theoriespublished at 19:49 GMT
19:49 GMT
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
These are some of the most closely guarded case files by the US government, and have sparked years of conspiracy theories, debates, and arguments over exactly what the powers that be knew about Epstein’s sex trafficking operations.
The ‘Epstein case’ is a byword for government cover ups, elite protection and systemic failure.
The law – passed by Congress last month – will confront years of alleged secrecy by releasing swathes of material related to criminal investigations into Epstein, his indictment, the trial of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and also details around Epstein’s death in jail in 2019.
Many – without evidence – believe the convicted sex offender did not die by suicide.
But what people want, they probably won’t get, given the Epstein Files Transparency Act also allows the US Department of Justice to redact information. This, according to the law, would be any records that contain:
personally identifiable information about Epstein’s victims
materials depicting child sexual abuse
materials depicting physical abuse
any records that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation”
or any classified documents that must stay secret to protect “national defense or foreign policy”
Attorney General Pam Bondi would however have to give a clear explanation about the redaction and the black-out would be temporary.
For President Trump this is a huge moment with personal and political implications – the case has consumed his administration.
He, along with some very high profile influential online right-wingers, deeply believed there was a vast conspiracy the government was covering up – and that if Trump won the 2024 election, he would blow the lid off it all.
Despite trying to distance himself from his own promise, he was eventually outmanoeuvred by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to sign this law.
We will definitely get something today, with material that investigators themselves couldn’t corroborate. So it’s likely the files will just feed more questions and more conspiracy theories.