What happens now that US Justice Department must release the Epstein files?

The signing of the bill by President Donald Trump has triggered a 30-day countdown for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release its case files on Jeffrey Epstein. 

The legislation compels Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce nearly everything the department gathered across multiple federal investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, amounting to roughly 100,000 pages, according to a federal judge.

The DOJ must also release its internal communications on Epstein, his associates and his 2019 death in federal custody. Within 15 days of producing the files, the department must publish reports explaining any withheld materials or redactions, says NPR.

Officials are barred from withholding information on the grounds of "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary".

What can the DOJ still withhold?

The bill includes exemptions aimed at protecting victims and ongoing legal matters. The DOJ may withhold:

• Personally identifiable information of victims
• Child sexual abuse materials
• Classified national security or foreign policy information
• Material that would jeopardize active investigations or prosecutions

This last exemption has raised concern among some supporters of the bill that the DOJ might cite new or expanded investigations to keep information from public view. One Republican sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie, said there was "no way they can have enough investigations to cover" all potentially named individuals.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the department will "follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims".

What are the immediate consequences once the files are released?

The publication of the records will amount to the release of a large archive covering more than a decade of investigations. The material is expected to include reports from interviews with victims and associates, internal DOJ discussions and correspondence, and case documentation that did not result in charges.

Because the bill limits redactions for political or reputational reasons, the release may bring renewed scrutiny to individuals across government, academia, finance and international politics who appear in the files. Survivors of Epstein's abuse view the disclosure as a step toward the public reckoning they have pursued for years.

What long-term effects could follow?

Public accountability:
Proponents say the objective is to deliver transparency on how federal authorities handled the Epstein investigations and to support a full accounting of allegations raised by victims.

Reputational risks:
Lawmakers have noted the possibility that individuals named in the files could face public suspicion even where information is unvetted or uncorroborated. Massie has said he wants the FBI to release interview reports, and he and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have offered to read names on the House floor, where speech is protected.

Political pressure:
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will challenge any move they view as falling short of "full transparency". After signing the bill, Trump said "Democrats have used the 'Epstein' issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories".

Internal divisions:
The bill created disagreements within Trump's political coalition. Greene questioned whether the DOJ would allow the files to be released or keep them "tied up in investigations". House Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns about disclosing sensitive information related to victims, though he ultimately voted for the bill.

Why did the bill pass with broad bipartisan support?

The measure passed the House and Senate with overwhelming margins. Lawmakers pointed to public pressure for transparency and the need to examine the government's previous handling of the case. Schumer called the bill a "command for the president to be fully transparent, to come fully clean, and to provide full honesty to the American people".

Epstein's long-standing connections to heads of state and other influential figures added to the momentum for disclosure.

What comes next?

The DOJ now has fewer than 30 days to prepare and release the records. Fifteen days after that, it must publish explanations of every redaction or withheld document. Once the material is made public, Congress is expected to scrutinise the department's compliance and the handling of any exemptions.

The release is likely to trigger months of examination by lawmakers, journalists and advocacy groups, given the scope of the archive and the expectation that many high-profile individuals will be mentioned in the files.