Justice Department faces deadline to release files on Epstein sex trafficking investigation
December 18, 2025
The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender known for his connections to powerful figures, including Donald Trump. The president had long opposed the files’ release but did a U-turn after political pressure from fellow Republicans. A bill Trump signed allows redactions for victims or ongoing investigations but not for embarrassment or political sensitivity. Epstein was a well-connected financier who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of abusing and trafficking underage girls. Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, who had many other prominent acquaintances in political and celebrity circles.