DONALD Trump could order the release of the investigative files related to convicted sex offender and paedophile Epstein as early as today.
The large cache of documents, sealed for years and the object of frenzied speculation, is now one step closer to being released to the public after Congress voted overwhelmingly to reveal the truth about the late financier.
Both the US House of Representatives and Senate moved to order the release of government files related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Epstein.
Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and served 13 months in jail.
In 2019, he was charged with sex trafficking of minors. Epstein pleaded not guilty to those charges.
The sex offender killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.
SWIFT ACTION
Epstein files release moves step closer after US Senate APPROVES publication
‘NOTHING TO HIDE’
Trump WILL sign Epstein files bill if it reaches his desk
But his death did nothing but spark more speculations over his connections with high-profile business executives, celebrities and politicians, including former close friend President Trump.
For years now, victims of the disgraced financier and their families – as well as conspiracy theorists – have called for the release of the files about the investigations into his crimes.
Yesterday, there were audible celebrations from the House of Representatives after the final decision of 427 votes in favour to just one vote against the bill was declared.
The single nay came from Republican Clay Higgins.
Just a few short hours later and the Senate followed suit with a huge majority verdict.
Majority Leader Thune said the Senate “hotlined” the process so the Senate could vote immediately.
The bill will now go to Trump’s desk for his final signature.
The US president on Monday confirmed he will sign the bill calling for the release of the Epstein files when it reaches the Oval Office.
And it could be as early as today.
The Department of Justice will then have 30 days to release the files.
What exactly are the Epstein Files?
The Epstein Files refer to the reams of evidence amassed by the Justice Department and FBI during a probe in Florida that led to his 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution and the investigation that led to his later indictment in New York.
The huge trove of documents has been sealed for years, and the object of frenzied speculation.
Only a sliver of the government material has ever been released publicly.
This includes tens of thousands of pages of evidence from federal investigations into Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell – known as the Epstein files – have been released to the public in stages over several years.
These documents, some released in redacted format, include Epstein’s flight logs, his contact book, email exchanges, court documents, and testimonies from victims and witnesses.
Names of many high-profile figures have appeared in them – but that does not mean they were aware of, or involved in Epstein’s crimes.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by the House and Senate, calls for the release within 30 days of “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” in the possession of the Justice Department, the FBI and US attorneys’ offices related to Epstein and his accomplice Maxwell.
Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein.
She was the only person convicted in connection with the disgraced financier, but Trump’s MAGA supporters have thought for years that “deep state” elites were protecting Epstein associates in the Democratic Party and Hollywood.
However, the US Attorney General Pam Bondi will have the power to redact the files and remove information that would pose a risk to underage victims or interfere with any ongoing investigation
Mark Epstein, the brother of the late sex offender, claimed before yesterday’s voting that the Republicans’ names are getting “scrubbed” from the Epstein files.
He told NewsNation: “I’ve been recently told the reason they’re going to be releasing these things, and the reason for the flip is that they’re sanitising these files.
Mark claimed he was tipped off by a “pretty good source” that the FBI has been working to clean the files.
Though he never named anyone whom he thinks may have had their names blotted out.
Tens of thousands of pages of evidence from federal investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell – known as the Epstein files – have been released to the public in stages over several years.
These documents, some released in redacted format, include Epstein’s flight logs, his contact book, email exchanges, court documents, and testimonies from victims and witnesses.
Names of many high-profile figures have appeared in them – including Donald Trump’s – but that does not mean they were aware of, or involved in Epstein’s crimes.
The President lived in Florida at the same time as Epstein and the two are known to have associated.
Trump has always said he cut ties with Epstein and banned him from Mar-a-Lago in the 2000s.
Earlier this year, a memo from the Justice Department and FBI said there was “no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions” or had a “client list”.
Epstein personally “harmed over one thousand victims,” the FBI and DOJ said, but “we did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”.
Digital searches of Epstein’s electronic devices and physical searches of his various properties, which included a private Caribbean island, had yielded a “significant amount of material, including more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence,” the memo said.
Trump campaigned for the White House on a pledge to release the Epstein files – and could have done so at any time since taking office without congressional intervention.
But he changed his mind about releasing the files after entering the White House in January.
Until the weekend, Trump and his staff had lobbied hard to prevent any further release of files from the criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice into Epstein.
Trump cut off his long-term ally Marjorie Taylor Greene over her “wacky” demands to release all the Epstein files.
He branded the Georgia Rep. a “lunatic” and officially withdrew his support for her – apparently after a text urging him to publish the documents.
He even said to a female reporter, “quiet, piggy” after she asked about the release of the Epstein files.
But the president is said to have grown frustrated with Republicans’ fixation on the Epstein files and wanted them to focus on the cost of living and other issues that matter more to voters, a senior White House official said.
Trump on Monday said the time has come to bring an end to the speculations around what is inside the late financier’s documents, which he says are being peddled by the Democrats.
The Epstein furore this week was reignited when Democrats released selectively redacted emails that mentioned Trump.
‘Epstein Hoax’
Trump accused Democrats of pushing an “Epstein hoax” after emails emerged in which the disgraced financier suggested Trump “knew about the girls”.
The White House said one of Epstein’s victims who “spent hours” with Trump, insisted he never did anything wrong – alluding to Ms Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent victims.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed the Democrats for the release of three emails from Epstein and how they redacted Ms Giuffre’s name.
The White House said Ms Giuffre, who the disgraced financier claimed “spent hours” with the future US president, already vowed that Trump had never done anything wrong.
Trump’s Republican Party then dumped more than 20,000 other files – including previously unseen emails.
Those documents shed new light on the extent of Epstein’s relationship with the likes of former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, discredited author Michael Wolff, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – the former Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
A long road
It all comes as survivors of Epstein’s abuse have spent months on Capitol Hill pushing for its passage.
Sky Roberts, brother of Ms Giuffre, said that the US lawmakers to “stop talking and act”.
Speaking in front of the US Capitol, he said: “My sister is not a political tool for you to use. These survivors are not political tools for you to use. These are real stories, real trauma.
“We will not let Virginia’s fight be in vain together. We will not let the predators win together.”
Another of the survivors, Danielle Bensky, said she was recruited by Epstein in 2004 and was “trapped in a year-long cycle of abuse”.
She said Epstein threatened to “withhold care” for her mother, who was battling a brain tumour.
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She said: “I am calling for the American people. You have homework. Call your congressional leaders.
“Call your senators. Please support this bill. Let’s get it all released.”