A new federal law is forcing the Justice Department to release Epstein-related records by the end of the week. Here's what to expect.

Washington

The Department of Justice is required to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein by the end of the week, following the enactment of the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Donald Trump. While the law mandates the release of these documents, it allows for certain exceptions, including the protection of victims' personal information and ongoing investigations.

Democrats have expressed concerns that the DOJ may misuse these exemptions and have threatened legal and political consequences if information is improperly withheld. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has released new photographs involving public figures and has called Bill and Hillary Clinton for depositions as part of its ongoing investigation.

Epstein files release deadline this Friday

What will the Department of Justice do? A new federal law says that all Epstein-related files must be released by this Friday. But the law also allows for some exceptions. So will this week produce any new news or not? It's unclear. President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law on November 19th. That started a 30-day clock for the Department of Justice to release the files. The deadline for release is this Friday. If you read the text of the law, it states, it's an act to require the Attorney General to release all documents and records in possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein. However, if you read the law even further, you realize some files can still be withheld. While it states, quote, no record shall be withheld, delayed or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity, it also says there are permitted withholdings if they, quote, contain personally identifiable information of victims or victims' personal and medical files, if the files depict or contain child sexual abuse materials or would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution. While Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the Department of Justice, quote, will follow the law, many Democrats in Washington believe officials may claim some exemptions incorrectly. On Tuesday, Democrats threatened to hold the Trump administration accountable. If they abuse narrow exemptions to hide the truth, we will know. And there will be serious legal and political consequences. The Department of Justice isn't the only government agency releasing new Epstein documents. In recent days, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released new photographs showing celebrities as well as President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton in photographs with Epstein. The Oversight Committee has been conducting its own investigation on Epstein for months. The committee has given former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dates in January to sit for a deposition and have threatened to hold them in contempt if they do not appear. The Clintons have long denied any wrongdoing, as has President Donald Trump, who said any new photo of him and Jeffrey Epstein is no big deal. I mean, everybody knew this man. He was all over Palm Beach. He has photos with everybody. I mean, almost there are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him. So that's no big deal. Joe St. George, Scripps News Group, Washington.

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