When Will the New Epstein Files Be Released, and What’s in Them? Everything to Know

After months of waiting, Congress passed a bill in November that demanded the release of additional government files related to the investigation of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

The bill, titled the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed 427-1 in the House and was approved unanimously in the Senate before it was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Nov. 19.

The bipartisan bill calls on the Justice Department to publish “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.”

However, there are some caveats — despite the bill’s passage in November, the DOJ does not have to immediately release the files, or reveal everything in their possession.

When Will the Epstein Files Be Released?

The DOJ must release the files by Friday, Dec. 19, which marks 30 days since the president signed the bill. The department could release the files at any time before the deadline.

What Are These Epstein Files?

These files are far from the first that will be released in connection to the Epstein case.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration released what Attorney General Pam Bondi called the “first phase” of Epstein files, but did not release documents with sensitive information about witnesses and victims. Most of the “first phase” files had already been made public.

The initial document drop didn’t stop increasingly loud calls for the administration to share everything they have about Epstein and his alleged crimes.

The law passed by Congress demands the release of additional files from the DOJ, which are separate from what was released by the House Oversight Committee from Epstein’s estate in November.

What Will the Files Contain?

It’s hard to confidently predict what will be revealed in the new set of files.

An itemized list previously released by the DOJ suggests that remaining evidence in their custody could come from seized cameras, computers, recording devices, hard drives and more, including one CD labeled “girl pics nude book 4.”

Investigators also reportedly collected physical files including photos, employee lists and travel logs — including the logs for boat trips to Little St. James, which could shed light on who visited the private island where his compound was located.

According to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the DOJ can withhold anything that is classified, could identify victims or interfere with a federal investigation, giving the department the ability to be selective about what they release and what information is redacted.

Notably, Trump asked Bondi in November to conduct an investigation into prominent Democrats who were mentioned in the trove of emails sent by Epstein and released by the House Oversight Committee, including  Bill Clinton, Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman.

Some believe that the DOJ could point to the new investigation as an excuse to withhold evidence, as the bill notes that the DOJ is permitted to withhold anything “that would jeopardize an active federal investigation.”

Nobody can say for sure how many more files the federal government is sitting on, or what percent of those will see the light of day.

Where Will the Files Appear?

The files may be shared via a Department of Justice press release, though the agency did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for clarification on where they will be posted.

In February, files were released on the DOJ website.