H.R. 4405

[119th Congress Public Law 38]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

[[Page 655]]

EPSTEIN FILES TRANSPARENCY ACT

[[Page 139 STAT. 656]]

Public Law 119-38
119th Congress

An Act

To require the Attorney General to release all documents and records in 
possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein, and 
for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 19, 2025 - [H.R. 4405]>> 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Epstein Files 
Transparency Act.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Epstein Files Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

(a) <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information.>> In General.--Not later 
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
General shall, subject to subsection (b), make publicly available in a 
searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, 
communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the 
Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and 
United States Attorneys' Offices, that relate to:
(1) Jeffrey Epstein including all investigations, 
prosecutions, or custodial matters.
(2) <<NOTE: Ghislaine Maxwell.>> Ghislaine Maxwell.
(3) Flight logs or travel records, including but not limited 
to manifests, itineraries, pilot records, and customs or 
immigration documentation, for any aircraft, vessel, or vehicle 
owned, operated, or used by Jeffrey Epstein or any related 
entity.
(4) Individuals, including government officials, named or 
referenced in connection with Epstein's criminal activities, 
civil settlements, immunity or plea agreements, or investigatory 
proceedings.
(5) Entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, or 
governmental) with known or alleged ties to Epstein's 
trafficking or financial networks.
(6) Any immunity deals, non-prosecution agreements, plea 
bargains, or sealed settlements involving Epstein or his 
associates.
(7) Internal DOJ communications, including emails, memos, 
meeting notes, concerning decisions to charge, not charge, 
investigate, or decline to investigate Epstein or his 
associates.
(8) All communications, memoranda, directives, logs, or 
metadata concerning the destruction, deletion, alteration, 
misplacement, or concealment of documents, recordings, or 
electronic data related to Epstein, his associates, his 
detention and death, or any investigative files.

[[Page 139 STAT. 657]]

(9) Documentation of Epstein's detention or death, including 
incident reports, witness interviews, medical examiner files, 
autopsy reports, and written records detailing the circumstances 
and cause of death.

(b) Prohibited Grounds for Withholding.--
(1) No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the 
basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political 
sensitivity, including to any government official, public 
figure, or foreign dignitary.

(c) <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication. Classified 
information. Summaries.>> Permitted Withholdings.--
(1) The Attorney general may withhold or redact the 
segregable portions of records that--
(A) contain personally identifiable information of 
victims or victims' personal and medical files and 
similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
(B) depict or contain child sexual abuse materials 
(CSAM) as defined under 18 U.S.C. 2256 and prohibited 
under 18 U.S.C. 2252-2252A;
(C) would jeopardize an active federal investigation 
or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding 
is narrowly tailored and temporary;
(D) depict or contain images of death, physical 
abuse, or injury of any person; or
(E) contain information specifically authorized 
under criteria established by an Executive order to be 
kept secret in the interest of national defense or 
foreign policy and are in fact properly classified 
pursuant to such Executive order.
(2) All redactions must be accompanied by a written 
justification published in the Federal Register and submitted to 
Congress.
(3) To the extent that any covered information would 
otherwise be redacted or withheld as classified information 
under this section, the Attorney General shall declassify that 
classified information to the maximum extent possible.
(A) <<NOTE: Determination.>> If the Attorney 
General makes a determination that covered information 
may not be declassified and made available in a manner 
that protects the national security of the United 
States, including methods or sources related to national 
security, the Attorney General shall release an 
unclassified summary for each of the redacted or 
withheld classified information.
(4) <<NOTE: Effective date.>> All decisions to classify any 
covered information after July 1, 2025 shall be published in the 
Federal Register and submitted to Congress, including the date 
of classification, the identity of the classifying authority, 
and an unclassified summary of the justification.
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

Within 15 days of completion of the release required under Section 
2, the Attorney General shall submit to the House and Senate Committees 
on the Judiciary a report listing:
(1) All categories of records released and withheld.
(2) A summary of redactions made, including legal basis.

[[Page 139 STAT. 658]]

(3) A list of all government officials and politically 
exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, 
with no redactions permitted under subsection (b)(1).

Approved November 19, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4405:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
Nov. 18, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.

<all>