[119th Congress Public Law 38]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 655]]
EPSTEIN FILES TRANSPARENCY ACT
[[Page 139 STAT. 656]]
Public Law 119-38
119th Congress
An Act
To require the Attorney General to release all documents and records in
possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein, and
for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 19, 2025 - [H.R. 4405]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Epstein Files
Transparency Act.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Epstein Files Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information.>> In General.--Not later
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney
General shall, subject to subsection (b), make publicly available in a
searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents,
communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the
Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
United States Attorneys' Offices, that relate to:
(1) Jeffrey Epstein including all investigations,
prosecutions, or custodial matters.
(2) <<NOTE: Ghislaine Maxwell.>> Ghislaine Maxwell.
(3) Flight logs or travel records, including but not limited
to manifests, itineraries, pilot records, and customs or
immigration documentation, for any aircraft, vessel, or vehicle
owned, operated, or used by Jeffrey Epstein or any related
entity.
(4) Individuals, including government officials, named or
referenced in connection with Epstein's criminal activities,
civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory
proceedings.
(5) Entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, or
governmental) with known or alleged ties to Epstein's
trafficking or financial networks.
(6) Any immunity deals, non-prosecution agreements, plea
bargains, or sealed settlements involving Epstein or his
associates.
(7) Internal DOJ communications, including emails, memos,
meeting notes, concerning decisions to charge, not charge,
investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his
associates.
(8) All communications, memoranda, directives, logs, or
metadata concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration,
misplacement, or concealment of documents, recordings, or
electronic data related to Epstein, his associates, his
detention and death, or any investigative files.
[[Page 139 STAT. 657]]
(9) Documentation of Epstein's detention or death, including
incident reports, witness interviews, medical examiner files,
autopsy reports, and written records detailing the circumstances
and cause of death.
(b) Prohibited Grounds for Withholding.--
(1) No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the
basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political
sensitivity, including to any government official, public
figure, or foreign dignitary.
(c) <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication. Classified
information. Summaries.>> Permitted Withholdings.--
(1) The Attorney general may withhold or redact the
segregable portions of records that--
(A) contain personally identifiable information of
victims or victims' personal and medical files and
similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(B) depict or contain child sexual abuse materials
(CSAM) as defined under 18 U.S.C. 2256 and prohibited
under 18 U.S.C. 2252-2252A;
(C) would jeopardize an active federal investigation
or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding
is narrowly tailored and temporary;
(D) depict or contain images of death, physical
abuse, or injury of any person; or
(E) contain information specifically authorized
under criteria established by an Executive order to be
kept secret in the interest of national defense or
foreign policy and are in fact properly classified
pursuant to such Executive order.
(2) All redactions must be accompanied by a written
justification published in the Federal Register and submitted to
Congress.
(3) To the extent that any covered information would
otherwise be redacted or withheld as classified information
under this section, the Attorney General shall declassify that
classified information to the maximum extent possible.
(A) <<NOTE: Determination.>> If the Attorney
General makes a determination that covered information
may not be declassified and made available in a manner
that protects the national security of the United
States, including methods or sources related to national
security, the Attorney General shall release an
unclassified summary for each of the redacted or
withheld classified information.
(4) <<NOTE: Effective date.>> All decisions to classify any
covered information after July 1, 2025 shall be published in the
Federal Register and submitted to Congress, including the date
of classification, the identity of the classifying authority,
and an unclassified summary of the justification.
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Within 15 days of completion of the release required under Section
2, the Attorney General shall submit to the House and Senate Committees
on the Judiciary a report listing:
(1) All categories of records released and withheld.
(2) A summary of redactions made, including legal basis.
[[Page 139 STAT. 658]]
(3) A list of all government officials and politically
exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials,
with no redactions permitted under subsection (b)(1).
Approved November 19, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4405:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
Nov. 18, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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