July 31, 2025

Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Demanding Public Release of Epstein Files

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,  joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in their efforts to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to publicly release all files relating to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

The Senators introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act to provide full transparency for the American people, accountability for individuals involved with Epstein, and justice for all victims harmed. As story after story trickles out about the Trump Administration’s handling of the Epstein Files, the Epstein Files Transparency Act is critical to restoring the public’s trust in government and includes strong protections to redact appropriate information to protect victims’ privacy and national security concerns, while explicitly prohibiting redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity.

“It is completely unacceptable that Republicans are helping Donald Trump sweep this under the rug, protect abusers and avoid delivering the transparency he promised the American people on the campaign trail,” said Duckworth. “If there’s nothing in the files, there’s no reason to hide them. The American people deserve the truth and the victims deserve justice.”

“The American people have asked for the truth about the Epstein files, but the Trump Administration has stalled, distracted, and fabricated falsehoods to prevent the release of the files. It’s about transparency in government and holding abusers accountable,” Durbin said. “The Epstein files must come to light.”

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Merkley and Luján, the Epstein Files Transparency Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Full text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act as introduced in the Senate can be found by clicking here.

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