President Donald Trump abruptly reversed his longstanding opposition to releasing additional Jeffrey Epstein files, urging House Republicans to support a measure that would compel the Justice Department to publish all related documents within 30 days.
The shift, announced Sunday on Truth Social, came after a growing number of Republicans signaled willingness to defy the president and force a vote.
With Trump now endorsing the bill, passage in the Republican-controlled House appears virtually assured as soon as Tuesday.
The proposed legislation would require the Justice Department to make public, in searchable and downloadable format, investigative files concerning Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while facing federal sex-trafficking charges.
The release could encompass records involving Ghislaine Maxwell, currently imprisoned for her role in Epstein’s crimes, as well as internal department documents and materials mentioning government officials or other individuals connected to the case.
However, the bill permits the Attorney General to redact or withhold information that would invade personal privacy, reveal law-enforcement techniques, or jeopardize active investigations.
Even if the House approves the measure, its fate in the Republican-led Senate remains unclear.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has given no firm commitment to take up the bill, though pressure is mounting from both parties.
Some Republican senators have framed the push for disclosure as a Democratic attempt to damage Trump during his second term.
If ultimately enacted, legal and procedural hurdles could still delay or limit the scope of any release, potentially fueling further demands from transparency advocates who insist the public deserves unfiltered access to the records.