A person holds a “Release the Files” sign during a rally in Washington, D.C., to support alleged victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Sept. 3, 2025.

The clock is ticking on the deadline for the Justice Department to release its files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In November, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law after both chambers of Congress backed the legislation. It required the Justice Department to release most of its files related to investigations of Epstein within 30 days.

Since then, a string of court rulings has ordered the publication of some documents about Epstein. On Dec. 10, a U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan ordered the release of records from a grand jury investigation into Epstein. A day earlier, another judge granted a similar request in the case of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Bipartisan leaders have hoped the disclosure of materials on Epstein could shed more light on his ties to rich and powerful people. Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

When will the Epstein files be released?

Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Justice Department must release its documents on Epstein within 30 days after the bill was signed into law.

Trump signed the act on Nov. 19, meaning the files must be released by Dec. 19.

It's possible that not all of the documents will be released in the end, though. The law makes an exception for documents that "would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary."

Also in November, Trump ordered the Justice Department to launch an investigation into Democrats linked to Epstein, so it's possible Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi could opt not to release some documents as part of the provision protecting federal investigations.

The law also allows authorities to withhold records that violate victims' privacy or contain sensitive material on child sexual abuse.

Epstein island photos released

Meanwhile, as the public awaits the documents, Democrats on Dec. 3 released pictures from Epstein's private island.

The photos show a variety of rooms and items found throughout the island, including a dentist's chair, a wall of masks and a phone with speed-dial listings.

Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee said the visuals are "never-before-seen photos and videos of Jeffrey Epstein's private island that are a harrowing look behind Epstein’s closed doors."

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, Kinsey Crowley and Bart Jansen

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will the Epstein files be released? Here's the latest

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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