Complete Guide to Jeffrey Epstein Files: Court Records, Political Connections, and Congressional Push for Transparency

Jeffrey Epstein was initially convicted in 2008 for soliciting an underage prostitute.

New Delhi:

The US Justice Department has been ordered by both the House and Senate to release its complete files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House measure passed with overwhelming support of 427-1, while the Senate approved it unanimously.

This legislative action follows US President Donald Trump's call for disclosure after months of resistance amid growing public pressure. The "Epstein files" comprise court records, emails, flight logs, and various documents detailing Epstein's criminal activities, his extensive network of associates, and connections to high-profile individuals.

President Trump must sign the measure for it to become effective.

The Epstein files encompass a vast collection of documents from multiple investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, who was first convicted in 2008 for soliciting an underage prostitute. In 2019, he faced federal sex trafficking charges involving minors as young as 14 before dying by suicide while in custody. These documents include victim and witness interview transcripts, items seized during property raids, civil case documents, and communications from his estate.

The files also contain information related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and close associate, who received a conviction in 2021 for child sex trafficking.

Over the years, certain portions of these files have been publicly released, including flight logs and contact lists showing Epstein's extensive connections, estate emails involving prominent figures like Steve Bannon and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, court documents from Maxwell's cases mentioning high-profile names including former President Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson, and a "birthday book" with a note allegedly involving Trump, which he denies writing.

Recently, the House Oversight Committee released thousands of emails from Epstein's estate.

The files contain numerous prominent names, though mere mention does not imply wrongdoing. Known connections include Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Steve Bannon, Larry Summers, Elon Musk, and former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Some entries simply document flight logs or correspondence with Epstein.

Trump and Epstein maintained a friendship in the 1990s, moving in overlapping social circles. Trump appears in Epstein's "black book" of contacts, and flight logs indicate he traveled on Epstein's plane. They were photographed together at social events, including Trump's 1993 wedding. Trump maintains their relationship ended in the early 2000s and has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

After initially resisting calls for disclosure, Trump reversed course under pressure from fellow Republicans and his supporters. House Republicans are expected to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 18, which would unseal all remaining documents related to Epstein's investigations. If passed, the legislation will move to the Senate, where it requires 60 votes for approval.

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has been a vocal advocate for complete transparency, arguing that Americans deserve access to these documents.

Public interest in the Epstein files remains high due to his crimes involving exploitation of minors and his connections to influential individuals, with many believing that key details remain concealed.

The US Department of Justice previously stated it would not release additional Epstein-related files. In a July 2025 memo, the DOJ and FBI indicated they had reviewed all available documents and found no new information warranting public disclosure, adding that there is no "client list" and no evidence implicating others in criminal activity.