Beyond The Dome: The Epstein Files

 By Katie Dusza, Assistant News Editor

On the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 19, Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act hours after the Senate passed it to his desk. This happened after his sudden support for the act, after months of condemning its passing. This act compels the U.S. Justice Department to release all of its files regarding its investigation into Epstein. 

After his signature, he went on a social media rampage in an apparent effort to turn his public image away from his friendship with the child sex offender. He refocused his attention on his claim that this is all a “hoax” to ruin his image, schemed by Democrats. Trump posted the following to his social media platform, Truth Social, which he designed after being banned from mainstream platforms: “Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!” 

The Trump administration has been adamant in resisting the release of the files, writing it off as a “Democrat created Witch Hunt.” Trump has claimed that he cut off ties with Epstein in 2009 when the sex offender was first convicted for soliciting underage prostitutes, calling Epstein a “creep.” However, recent releases from the Epstein estate suggest Epstein remained unusually focused on Trump years later, even when Trump was in office. Last week, the House Oversight Committee released over 20,000 emails from Epstein's estate. The documents included multiple mentions of Trump. 

In one email from 2011, Epstein said he was grateful that Trump had stayed quiet regarding details of Epstein’s life stating, the “dog that hasn’t barked is Trump.”  This was said despite the fact that Trump had spent hours at one of Epstein’s properties with a known victim. In a 2017 Epstein email exchange with Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, he wrote, “I have met some very bad people, none as bad as Trump,” adding, “not one decent cell in his body.”

Recently, Trump has switched to encouraging the release of the files and urged Republicans to open the Epstein files to public scrutiny. The vote in the House of Representatives was triggered by the 218th signature of the discharge petition to bring the files to the floor. This included all 214 Democrats and four Republicans. The bill passed 427–1 in the House. Republican lawmaker Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the only person to vote no on the release of the files. 

The Justice Department has 30 days to release all files, except for those that relate to an active criminal investigation, identify or invade the privacy of victims or contain graphic images.