U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new law mandating the release of documents related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This legislation requires the U.S. Department of Justice to disclose all unclassified files within 30 days. The bill was passed by both houses of Congress on Tuesday, with only one dissenting vote from Republican Clay Higgins.

The decision to sign the bill comes after Trump faced mounting pressure from members of his own party. Initially, he had resisted calls to release the files. In a social media post, Trump stated, "Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories."

The newly signed law obligates the Justice Department to release all documents and communications related to Epstein, including information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019. While the law allows for redactions concerning Epstein's victims due to ongoing federal investigations, it prohibits withholding information based on embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.

Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of releasing such information. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed worries that the bill could lead to the exposure of innocent individuals. He urged the Senate to amend the legislation, but the Senate passed it by unanimous consent, eliminating the chance for further debate or modifications.

Before the bill was signed, Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked about the next steps for releasing the files. She stated, "We will follow the law. The law passed both chambers last evening, it has not yet been signed, but we will continue to follow the law, again, while protecting victims but also providing maximum transparency."

The 30-day countdown for the release of the Epstein files has now begun, marking a significant step in the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein's activities and the circumstances surrounding his death.