D-Day for the Release of the Epstein Files by the Trump Administration

Today marks the day for the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. In 2024, Donald Trump campaigned with the promise to publish these documents. Now back in the White House, he has urged his supporters to move on. However, under pressure from Congress, the U.S. President is finally obliged to fulfill this commitment today.

After hesitating until the last legal deadline, the billionaire Republican's administration must release the documents it possesses regarding this long-standing case in the United States.

The death of financier Jeffrey Epstein, found hanged in his New York cell on August 10, 2019, before his trial for sexual crimes, has fueled countless conspiracy theories suggesting he was murdered to silence a scandal involving prominent figures.

Although he promised sensational revelations during his campaign, Donald Trump has ultimately urged his supporters to look beyond this issue, now calling it a "hoax" manipulated by the Democratic opposition.

Unable to prevent Congress from passing a law aimed at ensuring transparency in this matter, the U.S. President had to sign it on November 19. The legislation gave the government 30 days to comply, leading up to today.

This law mandates the Justice Department to publish all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell—who is serving a 20-year prison sentence—and anyone involved in the judicial proceedings.

There remains uncertainty about the extent of the revelations to come. "The truth is we don’t know what the Justice Department will do tomorrow," said Democratic Representative Robert Garcia on CNN Thursday. "What we do know is what they have done in the past: they have tried to conceal, they have tried to divert attention," he accused.

In July, the Justice Department and FBI announced in a memorandum that they had found no new evidence justifying the release of additional documents or further prosecutions. This announcement ignited enthusiasm among Donald Trump's "MAGA" base.

The expected documents could embarrass many public figures, including those from business, politics, or entertainment, who were associated with the financier. This includes Donald Trump, who had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein until their fallout in the 2000s.

The billionaire, a notable figure in New York's jet-set scene at the time, has consistently denied knowledge of Epstein's criminal behavior, asserting he cut ties well before Epstein faced legal troubles.

Last week, opposition lawmakers released a new series of photos showing Jeffrey Epstein with former Democratic President Bill Clinton, successful entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Richard Branson, and filmmaker Woody Allen. Donald Trump also appears in these images alongside women with obscured faces.

"It’s time for the Justice Department to release the files," these lawmakers stated Thursday after revealing 68 new photos obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's estate.

The White House claimed last week that "the Trump administration has done more for Epstein's victims than the Democrats ever did, publishing thousands of pages of documents and calling for new investigations into Epstein's Democratic friends."

The opposition, however, is concerned about potential manipulation of the files before their release. Two Democratic senators have called for an "independent audit" in an open letter to the Justice Department's inspector general to ensure that nothing has been "manipulated or concealed."