What are the Epstein files and when is the Trump-backed vote to release them?

On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives will vote on whether to demand the Justice Department release the so-called Epstein Files, which are believed to contain detailed correspondence and names of those who had connections to the sex offender.

But what are the Epstein Files? What do we know of their contents so far? And why has Donald Trump changed his mind on their release ahead of Tuesday’s vote?

Read more: 'We have nothing to hide': Trump calls on House Republicans to vote to release Epstein files

Read more: Trump calls for investigation into Bill Clinton's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein

What are the Epstein Files?

The term Epstein Files refers to several batches of court documents and government files related to Jeffrey Epstein that have been released or unsealed at different times.

As of November 2025, more than 20,000 documents relating to Epstein have been released, although many are heavily redacted.

Recently released emails sent by Epstein himself before his death suggest Mr Trump knew of his crimes and even “spent hours” with one of his victims.

Separate emails seemingly confirmed the now-infamous picture of the former Prince Andrew with Epstein’s victim Virginia Giuffre was real.

Many people believe the Epstein Files contain what amounts to the sex offender’s contact book and would implicate many rich and powerful people in his crimes if they were released - this is unconfirmed, however.

When is the Epstein vote and what will it mean if it passes?

On Tuesday, November 18, the House of Representatives will vote on whether to demand the US Justice Department unseal "in a searchable and downloadable format" all files pertaining to the Epstein case within 30 days.

Voting is expected to begin at around 3pm GMT (10am EST) and last several hours.

Previously, Trump had called on Republicans to vote against the release of the files, branding it nothing more than a “Democrat hoax.”

But as more evidence comes to light connecting Trump and Epstein, the President has been forced to U-turn amid a growing revolt from his own party.

A number of Epstein’s victims are expected to be in attendance on Capitol Hill today as they advocate for the release of the files.

The vote looks increasingly likely to pass, with several House Republicans turning on the President in the hours before his U-turn.

If the vote is successful, it still must go through the Senate, which is not legally required to even acknowledge it.

Why has Donald Trump changed his mind on the vote?

Donald Trump says he changed his mind on the Epstein vote because Republicans have “nothing to hide.

Despite this, the US president insists calls to release the files are a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party.”

It comes after the US President spent months trying to prevent the release of the infamous sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s communications, despite doing so being a key Republican campaign promise.

This shift was an implicit acknowledgement that supporters of the measure have enough votes to pass the House, although it has an unclear future in the Senate.

Speaking last week, Trump said: “We have nothing to do with Epstein. The Democrats do. All of his friends were Democrats. Reid Hoffman.... Larry Summers .... Bill Clinton. They went to his island all the time, and many others. They're all Democrats.

"All I want is, I want for people to recognise a great job that I've done on pricing, on affordability, because we brought prices way down, but they're going way lower on energy, on ending eight wars and another one coming pretty soon.

"I believe we've done a great job and I hate to see that deflect from the great job we've done. So I'm all for it."

How well did Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein know each other?

The pair were known to socialise from the 1980s to the early 2000s, both owning properties in both New York and Mar-a-Lago, Florida. In 2002, Mr Trump told the New Yorker: “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy.

“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

Full article: How well did Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein know each other?

"I mean, people in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling out with him a long time ago,” Mr Trump, then president, said in 2019.

“I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn't a fan. I was not, yeah, a long time ago, I'd say maybe 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you. I was not a fan of his."

A year later, he publicly wondered if Epstein had been killed and said that he “didn’t wish anything bad” on Maxwell.