The United States Congress has sent to Donald Trump’s desk a bill requiring the Department of Justice to release all case files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. However, the White House remains silent on whether and when the president will sign the measure.
The administration declared a “lid” on public engagements for the day, which signals that no further events or statements are expected. According to CNN, officials including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and the White House press office offered no update on the bill’s status.
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The bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act, received overwhelming bipartisan support. It passed the House with a 427 to 1 vote and then cleared the Senate by unanimous consent before being transmitted to the President’s desk Wednesday morning.
Earlier today, a White House official told CNN that the president had not yet decided when he would sign it. Another senior official told CNN that the bill would be signed whenever it reached the White House.
By Wednesday afternoon, the White House had not confirmed whether the president had received the measure, nor had it provided any timeline for his signature. When pressed by reporters, Miller simply stated, “I have nothing to add today.”
The president previously said he intends to sign the legislation, but the timing remains unclear.
Adding to the uncertainty is a growing contrast within the administration regarding the Epstein matter. Trump has at times referred to the subject as a “hoax,” even as Attorney General Pam Bondi now says there is “new information, additional information” related to Epstein. Her comment directly contradicts a Department of Justice memo that claimed no further investigation was needed.
Bondi also addressed the investigations requested by Trump, saying, “We are not going to say anything else on that because now it is a pending investigation in the Southern District of New York.”
Rep. Thomas Massie highlighted the conflicting statements, remarking, “It sounds like Pam Bondi has had this information at the same time that the president has still been calling it a hoax. So not only are they changing their tune all the time, they do not seem to be singing from the same hymnal.”
If the president signs the bill, the Department of Justice will be required to release Epstein related documents in a searchable and downloadable format. For victims and transparency advocates, the release could finally answer longstanding questions about Epstein’s network and the federal government’s handling of the case.
Some officials, however, have raised concerns about potential impacts on victim privacy, ongoing investigations, and national security matters. Bondi’s statements suggest the administration may still claim that active investigative priorities require caution.