US Congress releases Epstein files – Trump and public pressure

US Congress releases Epstein files – Trump and public pressure

On November 19, 2025, the US Congress decided to make the investigation files surrounding the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein publicly accessible. The House voted overwhelmingly, with 427 votes in favor and just one against, a clear rejection of Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana's dissent. This vote under the “Suspension of the Rules” procedure required a two-thirds majority.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats but ultimately supported the bill. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump expressed anger and denied any allegations that could link him to Epstein. Trump emphasized that Epstein only donated to Democrats. The bill is now being considered in the Senate, where Chuck Schumer has requested “unanimous consent” for rapid passage. Trump has already signaled he will sign the bill once it passes Congress.

Background on Jeffrey Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein, a millionaire financial entrepreneur, was confronted with several serious allegations of abuse in the 1990s. He and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell are accused of running a human trafficking system in which underage girls were sexually exploited. Prominent figures linked to Epstein include Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton and Bill Gates.

In 2008, Epstein was able to negotiate a deal with prosecutors in Miami that gave him just 18 months in prison, of which he only had to serve 13 months. He was arrested again in 2019, but died in his cell under controversial circumstances, officially by suicide. This led to speculation and conspiracy theories about the circumstances of his death.

The Epstein files

The now accessible “Epstein Files” contain over 300 gigabytes of investigative data documenting evidence for more than 1,000 victims of Epstein’s crimes. A first part of these files was published in September 2025, including 33,000 documents. Trump had promised to release these files during his election campaign and recently called on his party colleagues to vote for release.

Social consequences of sexual crimes

The shock caused by Epstein and his actions is shining a bright spotlight on the issue of sexual crimes worldwide. These are considered particularly despicable and have increasingly become a serious problem in Germany in recent years. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, recorded sexual offenses rose continuously, with a peak of around 128,000 cases in 2024.

The statistics show that around 91 percent of victims of sexual crimes are female and that adolescents and young women between the ages of 14 and 20 are particularly at risk. The number of unreported cases of these crimes is high because many victims are traumatized or intimidated and lack the courage to report them. In this context it becomes clear how important a social discussion about power relations and gender roles is.

Congress' decision to release the files could have far-reaching public and policy implications, potentially helping to raise awareness and bring about change on the issue of sexual violence.

For further information about the Epstein files and the issue of sexual violence, read the reports on crown, daily news and Statista.