[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 325 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 325
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Justice
should release appropriate, non-sensitive materials related to the
investigation of Jeffery Epstein to restore public trust, affirm
institutional accountability, and prevent the politicization of
justice.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2025
Mr. Gallego submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Justice
should release appropriate, non-sensitive materials related to the
investigation of Jeffery Epstein to restore public trust, affirm
institutional accountability, and prevent the politicization of
justice.
Whereas the investigation into the sex-trafficking network operated by Jeffery
Epstein (referred to in this preamble as the ``Epstein investigation'')
raised urgent questions about how a wealthy, well-connected individual
was able to commit crimes against minors with impunity for years;
Whereas, in July 2019, Epstein was arrested on Federal sex-trafficking charges
and died by suicide weeks later in Federal custody at the Metropolitan
Correctional Center in New York, precluding a public trial and full
airing of evidence;
Whereas, following the death of Epstein, many victims, advocates, and members of
the public called for comprehensive transparency and accountability,
including access to materials gathered during the Epstein investigation
that could be released lawfully;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on a television
station broadcasted across the United States that a ``client list''
related to the network operated by Epstein was ``sitting on [her]
desk'';
Whereas Bondi, alongside the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Kash Patel and the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation Dan Bongino, repeatedly pledged to deliver full
transparency, suggesting that key documents, including flight logs and
black books, were being reviewed and prepared for public release;
Whereas, in 2023, Patel stated that Epstein's ``black book'' was ``under direct
control of the Director of the FBI'' and that Trump ``should roll out
the black book'' on day one;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi distributed binders
labeled ``The Epstein Files: Phase 1'' to a group of right-wing
influencers during a White House visit, claiming they contained
declassified materials from the Epstein investigation;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly alleged that she
was misled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the scope of
the Epstein investigation files, stating in a letter to the Director of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel that a whistleblower had
informed her that the New York Field Office for the Federal Bureau of
Investigation was in possession of thousands of pages of additional
documents that had not been disclosed despite repeated requests;
Whereas these statements were amplified by senior officials and widely
disseminated across traditional and social media, creating a legitimate
public expectation that the Department of Justice would release
meaningful new disclosures;
Whereas, in July 2025, the Department of Justice issued an unsigned, 2-page
memorandum stating there was no ``client list'', no evidence of
blackmail schemes involving public figures, and that further disclosure
of materials was not ``appropriate or warranted'';
Whereas the memo did not provide an explanation of how these determinations were
reached, nor did it specify which documents had been reviewed or why
materials earlier described as forthcoming were now being withheld;
Whereas this abrupt reversal, paired with a lack of accountability or
clarification from leadership in the Department of Justice, has fueled
further speculation, intensified misinformation, and contributed to a
public perception that political considerations, not legal standards,
are governing disclosure decisions;
Whereas victims of the abuse carried out by Epstein or related to his
trafficking network, along with the broader public, deserve clarity on
what happened, how evidence has been handled, and whether any
institutional failures contributed to the delayed or incomplete pursuit
of justice;
Whereas public trust in the Department of Justice depends on consistent, fact-
based communications and a demonstrated commitment to accountability
that transcends political pressure;
Whereas the disclosure of non-sensitive materials, such as timelines,
investigatory summaries, indices of sealed filings, and previously
released documents in structured formats, would serve the public
interest while protecting the privacy and dignity of victims; and
Whereas the responsible release of information ensures that public institutions
are transparent, credible, and accountable to the people they serve:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) prior to any other action related to the investigation
of Jeffery Epstein (referred to in this resolving clause as the
``Epstein investigation''), the Department of Justice should
meet with the identified victims of Jeffery Epstein and their
representatives to answer questions about the investigations
and prosecutions related to the Epstein investigation and to
provide the materials the Department of Justice intends to make
public;
(2) the Department of Justice should publicly clarify the
full scope of materials in its possession related to the
Epstein investigation, including which materials have been
reviewed and which remain under seal;
(3) the Department of Justice should release all
appropriate records related to the Epstein investigation, such
as flight manifests, investigatory summaries, chain-of-custody
documentation, and any material previously entered into the
public record but not widely disseminated;
(4) any internal memos or legal analyses justifying the
withholding of materials related to the Epstein investigation
should be released, in redacted form where appropriate, to
clarify the basis for the determinations of the Department of
Justice and protect the identity of victims;
(5) the Department of Justice must correct prior misleading
or inaccurate statements by senior officials of the Department
of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the
existence of certain records, timelines for review, and
commitments to transparency, related to the Epstein
investigation;
(6) public officials have a responsibility to communicate
accurately and responsibly, particularly in matters involving
victims of sex trafficking and public corruption, and failure
to do so undermines faith in the justice system;
(7) the Senate reaffirms its support for full
accountability regarding the Epstein investigation, including
the identification of any co-conspirators, public or private,
whose conduct was criminal, and calls upon the Department of
Justice to explain what steps, if any, it has taken to pursue
such co-conspirators;
(8) the Department of Justice should prioritize victim
protection in any future disclosures, including by redacting
personal information, withholding identifying images, and
ensuring that materials cannot be used to re-traumatize victims
or incite harassment; and
(9) the Senate recognizes that truth and transparency are
essential to countering misinformation, preventing future
abuse, and preserving the integrity of public institutions and
the justice system.
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