President Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday that mandates the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes after significant political pressure from within his own party, despite Trump's earlier resistance to such efforts.

In a social media post announcing the signing, Trump stated, "Democrats have used the 'Epstein' issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories."

The newly signed legislation requires the U.S. Department of Justice to release all documents and communications concerning Epstein, including details about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019. The Justice Department has 30 days to comply with this requirement. While the bill allows for redactions concerning Epstein's victims due to ongoing federal investigations, it prohibits withholding information based on "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity."

This development marks a significant shift in the political landscape, as the push for transparency regarding Epstein's case gained momentum from an unusual coalition of Democrats, a Republican critic of Trump, and some former Trump supporters. Just last week, the Trump administration had called Republican Representative Lauren Boebert to the Situation Room to discuss the matter, but she did not change her stance on the issue.

Over the weekend, Trump reversed his position, acknowledging that the Epstein issue had become a distraction from the Republican agenda. He expressed a desire to refocus on his party's achievements, stating, "I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we’ve had."

The House of Representatives passed the legislation with an overwhelming vote of 427-1, with only Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana opposing it. Higgins raised concerns that the bill's language could lead to the release of information about innocent individuals mentioned in the investigation. The Senate later approved the bill unanimously without a formal vote.

Trump's past friendship with Epstein, who was known for his connections to the elite, has been well-documented. However, Trump has consistently claimed he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities and had severed ties with him long ago. Prior to Trump's return to the White House for a second term, some of his close political allies had propagated conspiracy theories regarding the government's handling of the Epstein case, suggesting a cover-up of potentially damaging information.