US Debate Intensifies Over Release of Epstein Case Files

Recently, President Donald Trump made an unexpected and stark reversal from his previous position of opposing the release of the Epstein files.

With the longest shutdown of the U.S. government now over, the White House, Congress, the media, and the public have shifted their attention to the highly political issue of releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The White House’s resistance to releasing Epstein-related documents evokes the famous line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet that the U.S. president “doth protest too much, methinks.” For many, the president’s repeated denials of any wrongdoing suggest the opposite.

According to a Marist poll conducted in October, 77% of the U.S. public support the release of all files relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Another 13% want some files released, while only 9% oppose releasing any documents.

A similar share, 63%, believe the president is hiding important information, while 61% disapprove of how he is handling the matter. Additionally, 53% believe the files are sealed because the president is named in them.

Much of the U.S. public believes the president does not want the Epstein files released because the information may be criminal or embarrassing. In a national poll conducted in July, 61% said the files likely contain embarrassing information about him.

Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans are pushing for the release of all Epstein files and are working toward a Congressional vote. A bipartisan group of lawmakers argues that releasing the files is a moral imperative that would help deliver justice for more than a thousand victims and uphold truth over political convenience. A group of Epstein’s victims is also featured in a new ad urging Congress to pass the pending legislation.

In addition to acknowledging widespread public support, the president’s recent shift appears to recognize that supporters of the measure now have enough votes to pass it in the House. However, the president never needed Congressional approval, as he has the power to release the files himself.

Recent reports suggest the White House is now in “panic mode.” Besides criticising Democrats pushing for a vote, the president has sharply attacked Republican lawmakers who support releasing the files.

Newly released documents from Epstein’s estate further complicate matters. Several messages reference the U.S. president, and a review found he was mentioned in more than 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads.

Despite this, the president continues to oppose releasing the files, claiming the issue is a political hoax. He insists the files contain nothing incriminating. His supporters argue that the controversy is merely a fabricated narrative intended to smear him.

The Epstein files refer to a large collection of documents related to the convicted sex offender and a trafficking network that victimized hundreds of children.

On 10 August 2019, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, an apparent suicide according to prison guards. Initially expressing suspicion, the attorney general described Epstein’s death as “a perfect storm of screw-ups.” The incident triggered widespread conspiracy theories suggesting he was killed to stop him from implicating others.

For example, in 2011 Epstein wrote to Ghislaine Maxwell: “I want you to realize that the dog that hasn’t barked is trump … (victim) spent hours at my house with him.” In 2018 he wrote again: “I am the one able to take him down and you see, I know how dirty donald is.” The president’s name also appeared in other correspondence, suggesting awareness of Epstein’s activities. Although he once called Epstein a “terrific guy,” he now claims they barely knew each other.

Polling from mid-2025 showed nearly half of the U.S. public—46%—believed the president was involved in Epstein’s crimes.

Support for releasing the files continues to grow, with many Americans wanting full transparency to ensure the innocent are cleared and the guilty held accountable.

After months of delay attempts and a discharge petition by Democrats, joined by four Republicans, the House reached the 218-signature threshold. On 18 November, the House voted to compel the Department of Justice to release all case files tied to Epstein. The bill passed 427–1. The Senate followed by passing the measure unanimously. The legislation is now heading to the president’s desk.

The president recently reversed his stance, calling on House Republicans to support releasing the files, saying, “We have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat hoax.”

His reversal allows him to claim support for transparency while shifting political pressure onto Congress. It may also help limit defections within his party and avoid a potential political setback. The move could further enable the administration to control the timing and scope of future document releases, particularly those involving his ties to Epstein. Meanwhile, the president has urged the attorney general to investigate several Democrats, using these probes to justify withholding some files.

With both chambers of Congress having passed the bill, the legislation now awaits the president’s signature or veto. It remains unclear when the files might be released and whether the public will consider the release sufficient.

In a significant shift, the president has declared that he will sign the bill if Congress passes it. However, he has reversed course on similar matters before and could still choose to veto it upon closer review. Nevertheless, a veto is unlikely, as Congress has the power to override it with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

If all Epstein-related files are released, the information could trigger one of the largest scandals in U.S. presidential history. Such a scandal might compel the president to echo another line from Hamlet: “Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.”

Joseph Chamie is a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division, and author of numerous publications.