In a whirlwind week that has seen both the corridors of power and the court of public opinion abuzz, the saga of Jeffrey Epstein has returned to dominate national headlines. On November 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill compelling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all unclassified files related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move, hailed by lawmakers across the aisle as a significant step toward transparency, comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to the rich and powerful—including Trump himself—and a parallel firestorm in the media over controversial commentary by SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly.
The legislative push for the release of the Epstein files was nothing short of overwhelming. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a staggering 427-1 margin, and the Senate followed suit just hours later with unanimous consent. According to USA TODAY, the bill’s passage was championed by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie, with support so broad that even President Trump’s initial hesitation was overcome by mounting pressure from both sides of the political spectrum. Notably, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent figure in Trump’s own party, was among those publicly urging the bill’s advancement.
Under the new law, the DOJ now has a 30-day window—starting from November 19—to publicize "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" stemming from the Epstein investigation. These files must be made available to the public in a "searchable and downloadable format," a stipulation designed to ensure accessibility and foster accountability. However, the legislation also carves out exceptions: the identities of victims, "child sexual materials," and any content that could jeopardize ongoing investigations may be withheld. To address concerns about overzealous redaction, Attorney General Pam Bondi is required to provide Congress with a detailed summary of any withheld information, including legal justifications for each redaction.
Speaking on the day of the bill’s signing, Bondi emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to openness without compromising the privacy and safety of victims. "We'll continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims," she stated on November 19. Her message was echoed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who underscored the legislature’s intent: "The clear intent from the House and Senate is to get the information out there" after the near-unanimous votes in both chambers.
Despite the bill’s near-universal support, some uncertainty lingers over the timeline and scope of the files’ release. Ty Cobb, a former White House lawyer during Trump’s first term, told CNN that he believes Bondi may cite ongoing investigations as grounds for withholding certain materials. This could potentially delay the full unsealing of the files, a prospect that has led to speculation and frustration among advocates for transparency. Adding another layer of complexity, days before signing the bill, President Trump ordered the DOJ to launch an investigation into Democrats linked to Epstein—an action that some critics have called politically motivated.
The renewed focus on the Epstein case has also reignited debate in the media, with SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly finding herself at the center of a social media maelstrom. On her podcast last Wednesday, November 12, Kelly made remarks that many listeners found deeply troubling. Citing an unnamed source "very, very close" to the Epstein case, Kelly asserted that Epstein was "not a pedophile" in the sense of being attracted to very young children, but rather someone "into the barely legal type, like, he liked 15-year-old girls." She added, "Whatever. It’s sick. Every time we start talking about Epstein, it makes your skin crawl. You’re right. The whole thing is just disgusting."
The backlash was swift and fierce. According to HuffPost, outraged SiriusXM subscribers took to social media to denounce Kelly’s comments, with many threatening—or claiming—to cancel their subscriptions in protest. One user wrote, "Hey all. We got Kimmel back by cancelling our Disney/Hulu accounts. Maybe we can get RID of Megyn Kelly by cancelling our @siriusxm subscriptions?? We cancelled ours! Who else is going to boycott SiriusXM bc of @megynkellyshow’s DISGUSTING comments?" Another added, "Just canceled my membership after 10+ years of being a Sirius XM subscriber; I will not support a service who gives a platform to a person who speaks without thinking and is filled with hate. I’ll be back if @megynkellyshow goes off the Sirius XM air."
Public figures also weighed in, amplifying the criticism. Actress Christina Ricci, "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert, and political commentator Meghan McCain were among those who publicly condemned Kelly’s remarks. The controversy has placed SiriusXM in a difficult position, with the company remaining silent as of November 20, despite repeated requests for comment from media outlets. For now, the platform is facing a wave of canceled subscriptions and calls for accountability.
This convergence of political action and media controversy has reignited public interest in the broader questions surrounding Epstein’s legacy and the powerful people who once counted him as an associate. The demand for transparency is palpable, cutting across party lines and ideological divides. For some, the release of the files represents a long-overdue reckoning with the abuses and cover-ups that have haunted the Epstein case for years. For others, the political maneuvering and media spectacle threaten to obscure the suffering of the victims and the need for genuine accountability.
As the DOJ prepares to release the trove of Epstein-related documents, all eyes are on Attorney General Bondi and her team. Will the files shed new light on Epstein’s connections to the elite, or will redactions and legal wrangling frustrate those seeking the truth? The next month promises to be a critical period, with the potential to reshape public understanding of one of the most notorious scandals of the past decade.
Meanwhile, the fallout from Megyn Kelly’s podcast episode serves as a stark reminder of the power—and peril—of public platforms in shaping the narrative around sensitive topics. With SiriusXM subscribers voting with their wallets and celebrities adding their voices to the chorus of condemnation, the episode underscores the ongoing struggle over how to discuss, contextualize, and ultimately confront the disturbing realities of the Epstein case.
In the coming weeks, as the DOJ’s deadline approaches and the public awaits answers, the intertwined stories of legislative action and media controversy will continue to unfold. For now, the nation watches and waits, hoping that the promise of transparency will bring long-sought clarity—and perhaps a measure of justice—to a case that has cast a long shadow over American society.