Feb. 27, 2025 — White House
The Department of Justice (DOJ) convened a meeting with conservative influencers, handing out binders marked “The Epstein Files: Phase 1.” According to attendees, most of the contents were already public, and White House staff said they had not been briefed in advance about the distribution.
Spring 2025: Congressional Interest Grows
May 8, 2025 — Capitol Hill
The House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets requested the full release of the Epstein files in a formal letter to Bondi. No response was provided by the May 16 deadline.
Summer 2025: Partial Release and Backlash
July 7, 2025
The DOJ and FBI issued a joint statement saying a review uncovered no evidence of a client list and reaffirmed the 2019 conclusion that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody. Hours of video were released as supporting material, but later assessments revealed missing footage.
The statement prompted criticism from several conservative commentators who accused the department of withholding key information. Bondi became the focus of intense online scrutiny.
July 12, 2025
Trump defended Bondi on social media, calling her performance “fantastic” and urging supporters to halt criticism.
July 15, 2025
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) launched a discharge petition seeking a House vote to compel release of the files. On the same day, House Speaker Mike Johnson requested that Bondi brief lawmakers on her handling of the probe.
Late July to August 2025: Interview With Maxwell
July 24–25, 2025
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—formerly Trump’s personal attorney—interviewed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell at a federal facility. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking offenses, had requested the meeting. A month later the DOJ released a transcript in which she stated no client list existed. Sources told ABC News that Maxwell received limited immunity for the interview.
Imagem: Internet
Aug. 1, 2025
The DOJ moved Maxwell from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security federal camp in Texas.
September 2025: Additional Documents Surface
Sept. 8, 2025
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published a 238-page digital copy of Epstein’s 50th birthday book. The compilation included a prologue by Maxwell and a page attributed to Trump featuring a typed message inside a sketch of a woman’s body. Trump denied authorship.
November 2025: Petition Threshold Reached
Nov. 12, 2025
House Oversight Democrats released more than 20,000 Epstein estate emails. Several referenced Trump, including one in which Epstein claimed the future president “spent hours at my house” with an identified victim. The White House described the release as a politically motivated leak.
Later that day, Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn in after a special election victory and became the 218th signature on the discharge petition, satisfying the procedural requirement for a floor vote. Speaker Johnson said he would schedule a vote the following week.
Current Standing
The administration has not announced any additional steps toward broader disclosure. Bondi has maintained that her department found no basis for new criminal proceedings against uncharged individuals. Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties continue to push for full transparency.
An overview of Epstein’s 2019 prosecution, including official court documents and charging instruments, is available through the U.S. Department of Justice.
As Congress prepares to vote on releasing the remaining files, the White House faces growing bipartisan scrutiny over whether it will honor campaign promises or maintain its current limited-release approach.
Crédito da imagem: Getty Images / AP
