FAQ

Vote on file release

For a long time, US President Trump dismissed calls for the release of the Epstein files as a diversionary tactic. Now he has finally agreed. So what is the Epstein case all about, and what will Congress now decide?

Who was Jeffrey Epstein?

The name Jeffrey Epstein stands for a scandal that has gripped the USA for many years, involving the most serious sexual crimes and linking them to the highest circles of the American elite.

Epstein was a multimillionaire financier. The first allegations of abuse against him surfaced in the 1990s, but these initially had no legal consequences.

It wasn't until the mid-2000s that law enforcement began investigating allegations that Epstein, aided by his longtime partner Ghislaine Maxwell, had run a human trafficking operation. Underage girls were lured with money to his properties in New York, Florida, New Mexico, and his Caribbean island, where they were sexually abused—by Epstein himself, but also by celebrities in whose circles he moved.

Among the most well-known names is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who this year lost his title of prince and his honours because of his connection to Epstein and the accusation of abusing the then underage Virginia Giuffre.

But Epstein also maintained close contact with Donald Trump for years, long before he became US president. Another former US president, Bill Clinton, also had a relationship with Epstein. Other names that appear in court documents and his correspondence include Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, Stephen Hawking, and David Copperfield.

In 2008, Epstein reached a plea deal with the Miami (Florida) district attorney's office, which ended federal investigations against him. He pleaded guilty to trafficking a minor into prostitution and was sentenced to 18 months in prison under lenient conditions. He was released after 13 months.

Revelations in US media led to Epstein's re-arrest in July 2019. Shortly afterward, he was found unconscious in his New York cell with wounds to his neck and initially placed under constant observation due to a suicide risk. This order was lifted at the request of his lawyers. From August 2019, Epstein was alone in his cell; another inmate was transferred. The following day, he was found dead in his cell.

Investigations concluded that it was a suicide. The New York City Medical Examiner's Office corroborated this. Ministers and senior officials from three US administrations repeatedly affirmed that there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in Epstein's death.

Nevertheless, the case continues to fascinate the American public and attracts worldwide attention. Epstein's crimes and the handling of the case by the justice system and politicians are also the subject of suspicion and conspiracy theories.

What are the Epstein files?

The"Epstein Files" are investigative files compiled over many years by the FBI in the Epstein case. Specifically, according to the Department of Justice, they comprise more than 300 gigabytes of data, including documents, photos, videos of child abuse, other pornographic material, and audio recordings.

According to the Justice Department, the files prove that more than 1,000 people fell victim to Epstein's activities. The evidence was found, among other places, during searches of Epstein's homes.

Some of the files have already been released. In September 2025, for example, the House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 documents – some of them years old court documents, as well as video files with bodycam footage of police operations and interrogations of alleged victims.

There is ongoing speculation as to whether the"Epstein Files" contain the names of "clients" to whom the multimillionaire may have supplied minors. The Justice Department stated in July 2025 that this was not the case. This statement led to contradictions on the part of Secretary Pam Bondi, and she subsequently fell out of favor with many Trump supporters who have been demanding the release of the files for years. As recently as February, she had claimed on Fox News that a corresponding list was on her desk for review.

Even Trump himself can no longer escape the Epstein case, having promised to release the files during his election campaign. The internal Republican dispute over this issue has recently intensified. Trump broke with his longtime supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene because the far-right congresswoman had strongly advocated for the release of the files. Then, just a few days ago, came another about-face: Trump advised his fellow Republicans to vote in favor of releasing the files in the House of Representatives – they had nothing to hide, he claimed.

What is the House of Representatives voting on now?

The House of Representatives will vote on Tuesday on whether to force the Justice Department to release all its files and correspondence related to the Epstein case, as well as information about the investigation into his death in prison.

Details about his victims and ongoing federal investigations are to be redacted. However, everything else is to be released without redactions, even information that could embarrass the Justice Department, damage its reputation, or be politically sensitive for politicians, public figures, or foreign dignitaries, according to the draft legislation cited by the Associated Press.

What is known about Trump's relationship with Epstein?

In the 1990s, Trump and Epstein partied together, as video footage shows. According to court records, Trump flew on Epstein's private jet at least seven times. In a 2002 interview, he called Epstein a"great man" and said of him: "It's even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do. And many of them are on the younger side." Epstein, in turn, said of Trump:"I was Donald's best friend for ten years."

According to the Washington Post, Trump and Epstein had a falling out in 2004 – apparently over a property in Palm Beach, Florida, which Trump ultimately won the bid for. In 2019, as president, Trump distanced himself from Epstein and stated that he had known nothing about the abuse.

In mid-November 2025, documents were released that once again raised the question of whether Trump knew more than he thought. These documents are excerpts from emails Epstein sent to his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. The emails are among 23,000 documents from Epstein's estate that were submitted to the House Oversight Committee and subsequently released by Democrats.

In an email dated April 2, 2011, Epstein wrote to Maxwell, who allegedly repeatedly brought him underage girls and is therefore in prison:"I want you to realize that the dog that hasn't barked yet is Trump. (Redacted name) has spent hours in my house with him, he hasn't been mentioned once."

In a second email from 2019, Epstein wrote to journalist Michael Wolff before his death in a prison cell:"Of course Trump knew about the girls, since he asked Ghislaine to stop."

And what about Bill Clinton?

As in Trump's case, it is undisputed that Bill Clinton associated with Epstein. Their acquaintance dates back to the early 1990s. During Clinton's presidency, Epstein, who had donated to Clinton, visited the White House at least 17 times. Whether and how often he met with Clinton is unknown. However, guest lists show that they attended the same events multiple times.

After the end of his presidency, Clinton repeatedly used Epstein's private jet for his foundation work. The Boeing plane later became nicknamed the"Lolita Express" because sex parties allegedly took place on board.

There are conflicting accounts regarding the number of flights. Clinton himself mentions four flights, while media reports citing flight logs mention up to 17. Clinton further states that he was always accompanied by staff, supporters, and security personnel on these flights. This also applies to his visits to Epstein's private residence in New York. There are also conflicting statements regarding whether or not Clinton visited Epstein's private island.

A birthday album for Epstein's 50th birthday reportedly contains a congratulatory letter from both Trump and Clinton, according to media reports. Clinton stated that their contact with him ended in the mid-2000s. However, a connection with the family remained in a broader sense, as Epstein's partner Maxwell took a yacht trip with Clinton's daughter Chelsea and attended Chelsea's wedding in 2010.

Trump has therefore consistently claimed that the Epstein scandal and the allegations against him are a diversionary tactic by Clinton's Democrats. In mid-November, Trump demanded that the Justice Department open investigations, including into Clinton, to examine the connection between Clinton and Epstein.

The Attorney General complied with this request the same day, even though in a memo joint with the FBI during the summer she had stated that there was no"evidence that would justify an investigation against uncharged third parties".

What role does Ghislaine Maxwell play?

Ghislaine Maxwell is arguably the person who knows the most about the Epstein system and the people associated with it. The daughter of British newspaper publisher Robert Maxwell was in a relationship with Epstein for many years. She played a central role in building his system for the sexual abuse of minors.

Even after the end of their romantic relationship, she remained by Epstein's side and continued to supply girls to his ring by approaching them, gaining their trust, and bringing them to her former partner – often for so-called massages.

For her involvement in Epstein's system, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. According to the verdict, she was even present during some of Epstein's abuses. She also established a"culture of silence" to keep the crimes secret. She did this to maintain her own lavish lifestyle with Epstein.

In June of this year, the Supreme Court rejected Maxwell's request to overturn the verdict. Also in June, Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanche questioned Maxwell for two days at the Florida prison where he was being held at the time.

A week later, Maxwell was transferred to a prison in Texas with a significantly lower security level, where, according to media reports, Maxwell enjoys special conditions of detention.

Epstein's victims and their families expressed outrage, seeing it as undue preferential treatment for Maxwell. The reasons for her transfer are unknown, but the decision has reignited speculation that it was intended to buy Maxwell's silence.

What would the next steps be?

Should the House of Representatives vote in favor of disclosure, as expected, the Senate would still need to approve it. The first step would be for the Senate to actually pass the bill and debate it. After a House vote, however, the pressure would likely be so strong that the Senate would probably not refuse to vote on it. And whether a majority of 60 senators would then vote in favor of releasing the documents is also still uncertain.

As a final step, the US president would have to sign the entire bill. This is also still unclear, although Trump stated on Monday that he would sign it should the legislation reach his desk.