The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, are expected to vote on releasing files related to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The release of the files has dogged US President Donald Trump, who had been a friend of Epstein’s before reportedly falling out with him in the early 2000s, years before Epstein’s convictions.
In May, it was reported that US Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump that his name, alongside several other high-profile figures, was included in the files.
Trump’s allies have been keen to stress that being named in the documents does not imply guilt or association with Epstein’s crimes, and that the pair’s relationship was well documented at the time.
Epstein killed himself in a New York jail while awaiting trial in 2019. He faced charges that he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls. Since his death, many more have said they were abused by him.
What are the Epstein files?
The Epstein files refer to what is thought to be thousands of documents connected to the investigation of convicted paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The files are believed to include flight logs from Epstein’s private jets, emails, estate records, court documents, and internal Department of Justice communications, as well as information about the investigation into his death in prison.
They detail Epstein’s movements, associates, and decisions made during his prosecution, as well as materials related to his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a jail sentence.
Politicians and campaigners seeking answers and justice have argued that the release of the files could show that other people were aware or complicit in Epstein’s sexual abuse.
Why are they so controversial?
The documents have been a source of contention among some because they potentially reveal connections between Epstein and high-profile names in the world of politics, entertainment and business.
Over the past few months, several documents have already been released by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, culminating in a batch of 23,000 documents published last Wednesday.
They include emails naming Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, former president Bill Clinton and former UK ambassador to the United States Lord Peter Mandelson.
In one email, Epstein writes that Trump “knew about the girls,” an apparent reference to the disgraced financier’s inappropriate behaviour at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, for which the president claims he cancelled his friend’s membership and ended their relationship.
Writing to journalist and author Michael Wolff, months before his death in 2019, Epstein contradicted the president’s claims he was ever a member, saying: “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever… of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.”
In other emails, Epstein claimed Trump had spent hours in his house with one of his own victims, whose name was redacted.
Other emails linked other notable figures with Epstein, including former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who has now stepped back from public engagements, saying he is “deeply ashamed” of his actions.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was ultimately stripped of his royal titles over his own connections with Epstein.
Several documents released by the US House Oversight Committee revealed the extent of his friendship with Epstein and ultimately leading to the removal of his royal titles. The former prince strenuously denies allegations.
The former British ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, was also sacked earlier this year after Democrats published a book compiled for Epstein’s birthday, which featured messages from Mandelson as well as other well-known names.
Alongside a suggestive message and drawing from Donald Trump, the book included photos and captions written by former British ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.
Why did the US government agree to a vote?
The Democrats forced a vote on releasing the files using a legislative mechanism known as a discharge petition after the required number of signatures – including four Republicans – was reached to trigger a vote in the House.
Trump had previously fought against the files’ release, describing their existence as a “Democrat hoax”, and the White House has accused Democrats of selectively leaking the emails to smear the Republican president.
His stance has caused outrage among some of his supporters and Republicans who had been campaigning for transparency and answers for many years.
On Monday, Trump changed his position, urging Republicans to vote to release the files, insisting he had “nothing to hide”.
His U-turn was thought by some to be a tacit acknowledgement that he no longer had the votes to block the motion from passing the House.
When could the files be released?
For the redacted files to be released, the vote would need to pass the House of Representatives, which it is expected to do. The tougher test will come in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53–47 majority and it would likely take 60 votes to move the bill to final passage.
The bill would then need to be signed by Trump, who has indicated he would do so should it pass both chambers of Congress.
The bill would likely allow information about Epstein’s victims or continuing federal investigations to be redacted.
The department, however, would not be allowed to redact information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
Concerns have been raised by some, doubtful of Trump’s commitment to the files’ full disclosure, over whether further investigations could delay or prevent certain files from being released altogether on account of being involved in active cases.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said last week she had ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Trump political foes, including former President Bill Clinton, a process which could delay the files’ release.
The first vote is scheduled to take place around 3pm GMT on Tuesday, but with many hurdles still in the way, it is still uncertain if the files will ever see a release transparent enough to assuage those calling for their publication.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
