Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in 1993. Credit: By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – Creative Commons
A fresh wave of Epstein-related documents was released by the Democrats on Wednesday, November 12, including emails in which Jeffrey Epstein alleged that President Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” according to new material published by the House Oversight Committee.
The release was followed hours later by Republican committee members publishing 20,000 pages of additional files obtained from Epstein’s estate, significantly escalating the political pressure around a possible congressional vote to force full disclosure of the remaining “Epstein files.”
Esptein emails include references to Trump
According to Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, a newly released 2011 email from Epstein alleged that a victim – whose name was redacted – “spent hours at my house with [Trump],” as summarised by Axios.
A separate 2019 email from Epstein claimed that Trump “knew about the girls,” a reference to Trump’s longstanding public assertion that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after the financier allegedly approached young female staff.
Trump has not been charged with any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The Republicans said their release aimed to provide a more complete record and accused Democrats of selectively releasing politically sensitive emails.
The latest publications add to a substantial body of Epstein-related material released over recent years:
- In January 2024, thousands of pages from a 2015 lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell were unsealed, naming high-profile acquaintances and victims who had spoken publicly.
- In February 2025, the Department of Justice released more than 100 pages of documents, including flight logs, an evidence list, a redacted contact book and a list of masseuses.
- A July 2025 DOJ–FBI memo concluded there was no evidence Epstein kept a “client list,” blackmailed powerful individuals or was murdered. Investigators reviewed prison-cell CCTV and stated they found “no evidence” anyone entered Epstein’s cell on the night he died.
- The DOJ later released both raw and enhanced video of the cell area, which appeared to support the official finding that Epstein died by suicide.
- In August 2025, transcripts and audio recordings of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Ghislaine Maxwell were published. In them, Maxwell said she never saw Trump “in any inappropriate setting.”
- Former Prince Andrew continues to face international scrutiny as additional Epstein-related material emerges. He recently lost his Prince title and is now referred to as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Daily schedules referring to Musk, Thiel, and Bannon
Further documents published in September included Epstein’s daily schedules, which referenced:
- Elon Musk, with an entry suggesting he may have flown to an “island” in 2014
- Peter Thiel, appearing in a dinner appointment
- Steve Bannon, referenced in a 2019 meeting
Congress prepares for decisive vote on full release of Epstein files
Much of the political focus now centres on Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, whose swearing-in on Wednesday is expected to deliver the 218th signature needed to trigger a House vote on compelling the Justice Department to release all unclassified Epstein files.
Once the discharge petition reaches 218 signatures, it freezes for seven legislative days. House Speaker Mike Johnson then has two legislative days to bring a vote to the floor, with timing likely in early December after the Thanksgiving recess.
Should the bill pass the House, it would move to the Republican-controlled Senate and would need a signature from Trump.
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