3:05This archived photo from Sept. 8, 2004, depicts Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images, FILE
On the campaign circuit, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance pledged to their supporters that, if victorious, they would make public the Justice Department documentation pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Donald Trump observes as first lady Melania Trump delivers remarks at a formal procedure for the “Fostering the Future” executive order in the East Room of the White House on November 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
However, since that time, the administration has seemed hesitant to unveil more details concerning the investigation or disclose all records, which has stirred discontent among some Republicans and Democrats and prompted inquiries regarding Trump's prior affiliations with Epstein.
The following is a chronology of significant occurrences regarding the Epstein documents situation following Trump’s return to the presidential office.
Feb. 21, 2025
During a Fox News interview, Attorney General Pam Bondi faced a query regarding the registry of Jeffrey Epstein’s patrons and the prospective release of such a document by the Justice Department.
Bondi stated, "It’s here on my desk awaiting my examination."
This Aug. 25, 2025, archived image shows Attorney General Pam Bondi speaking at a press conference in New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, FILE
The attorney general clarified in July that she was alluding to the Epstein case documentation, and not an alleged listing of clients.
Feb. 27, 2025
The Justice Department extends an invitation to conservative online commentators and influencers and provides them with binders titled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1." The majority of the presented proof had already been made available to the general populace.
This archived image from Feb. 27, 2025, showcases political commentator Rogan O’Handley, recognized as DC Draino, TikTok personality Chaya Raichik, conservative figure Scott Presler, commentator Liz Wheeler, and conservative political voice Chad Prather holding binders displaying the seal of the US Justice Department labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” as they exit the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Sources familiar with the event disclosed to ABC News that Bondi and her colleagues did not notify White House representatives beforehand regarding her intentions to circulate the binders.
May 8, 2025
The House's assembly on the unsealing of federal information called for the release of the Epstein documents in a communication to Bondi.
Bondi did not acknowledge the request prior to the deadline of May 16.
July 7, 2025
The DOJ and FBI jointly issued a declaration stating that a review of its data revealed no indication of any maintained patron list by Epstein or other details that would warrant a criminal probe into any individuals not yet charged.
As part of its assessment, the department also released hours of purported recordings, which authorities suggest further substantiated that Epstein died by suicide while incarcerated in his jail cell in Manhattan in 2019.
The footage from the Bureau of Prisons illustrating the moments leading up to Epstein's demise was subsequently found to have missing segments. Numerous conservative influencers censure Bondi and the Justice Department regarding the memo.
July 12, 2025
Trump defended Bondi via a social media announcement amidst the backlash from specific factions within his MAGA support base concerning the handling of the Epstein examination.
Trump lauded Bondi for doing a "splendid job" and urged his followers to refrain from criticizing her.
July 15, 2025
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna seek a House vote for a release request to make the Epstein files available.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson proceeds from the chamber to engage with reporters after the final vote to conclude the longest government cessation in history, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025.J. Scott Applewhite/AP
On the same day, House Speaker Mike Johnson requested Bondi to "step forward and clarify" her administration of the investigation.
Despite ongoing accumulation of signatures for the request, they remain short of the required 218 to advance.
When inquired about what Bondi communicated to him concerning the assessment of the Epstein documentation and whether his identity surfaced at any point, Trump responded, "No, no, she's only given us a brief rundown," prior to making unfounded allegations that the files were composed by certain of his political adversaries.
"She should reveal anything she deems trustworthy," expressed Trump.
July 24-25, 2025
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal counsel, questioned Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein, who is currently serving a 20-year prison term following her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking and other offenses linked to Epstein's unlawful endeavors.
Relatives of Virginia Giuffre express their support during a demonstration for the victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol, on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, FILE
Several sources revealed to ABC News that Maxwell initiated the discussion.
A month later, the Justice Department released a document of the interview, which was not sworn, where she affirmed the absence of a patron listing.
Aug. 1, 2025
The Justice Department conveyed that Maxwell had been relocated from a “low security” federal prison in Florida to a “minimum security” federal prison camp in Texas.
Sept. 8, 2025
Democrats serving on the House Oversight Committee disclosed a 238-page PDF publication of the 50th birthday book for Epstein, inclusive of a preface by Maxwell and a segment purportedly composed by Trump.
This archived photograph from Sept. 17, 2025, shows Rep. Jamie Raskin referencing what is said to be a drawing by Donald Trump created for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, during a House Judiciary Committee meeting entitled “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” in the Rayburn building in Washington, D.C.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, FILE
Trump's allocated segment features a typed communication contained within a sketch of a female figure, with his mark positioned at a suggestive location on the body.
The president refuted the claim that he was the writer and signatory of the communication.
Nov. 12, 2025
Democrats from the House Oversight Committee made public emails extracted from a compilation of more than 20,000 originating from the Epstein holdings.
Specific messages reveal Epstein referencing Trump, including an instance where he asserted that Trump "spent hours at my residence" alongside one of the sex-trafficked victims.
This archived image from Sept. 8, 2004, portrays Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images, FILE
The White House accused Democrats on the House Oversight Committee of revealing "selectively released electronic mails to the liberal press in order to fabricate a misleading portrayal" of Trump.
Later that evening, Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva was inaugurated into office, subsequent to her victory in a special election a month prior, and served as the final endorsing figure on the discharge request to exceed the necessary 218 mark.
Johnson announced intentions to introduce a bill for a vote on the House floor the following week concerning the release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
