In a political saga that has gripped Washington and reverberated through the corridors of power, the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote on a resolution compelling the Justice Department to release the so-called "Epstein files"—a vast trove of documents amassed during investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes amid fresh scrutiny of high-profile figures, a swirl of accusations, and calls for transparency from both survivors and lawmakers.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on November 13, 2025, that the Justice Department had launched new federal investigations into a number of prominent individuals, including LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and major institutions like JPMorgan Chase. The announcement followed the release of thousands of emails and documents by the House Oversight Committee—materials that mention several political and business leaders who moved in Epstein’s orbit, though without direct implication of wrongdoing for many.
Hoffman, who has spent years distancing himself from Epstein and apologizing for his former ties, found himself thrust back into the spotlight as President Donald Trump ordered and then reversed a Justice Department probe into him and others. According to Fortune, Trump’s actions were widely seen as a political counteroffensive, especially after the release of 20,000 new documents that outlined Trump’s own extensive contacts with Epstein—contradicting his longstanding denials of any close relationship or knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.
On November 14, Hoffman fired back publicly, demanding on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump "should release all of the Epstein files: every person and every document in the files." He characterized the probe as "nothing more than political persecution and slander," insisting he was never a client of Epstein’s and only engaged with him in the context of fundraising. Hoffman reiterated that he had "never engaged with Epstein in any capacity other than fundraising," and denied any deeper association.
Trump, meanwhile, doubled down in a Truth Social post on November 17, calling demands to release the full cache of Epstein files a "Democrat Hoax" and stating, "The Department of Justice has already turned over tens of thousands of pages to the Public on ‘Epstein,’ are looking at various Democrat operatives (Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, Larry Summers, etc.) and their relationship to Epstein, and the House Oversight Committee can have whatever they are legally entitled to, I DON’T CARE!" A White House spokesperson echoed Trump’s stance, telling Fortune that the Trump administration had "done more for the victims than Democrats ever have."
Other figures named in the documents responded in kind. Summers, in a statement to the Harvard Crimson, expressed regret: "I have great regrets in my life. As I have said before, my association with Jeffrey Epstein was a major error of judgement." A spokesperson for Clinton refuted the Trump administration’s claims, writing on X, "These emails prove Bill Clinton did nothing and knew nothing. The rest is noise meant to distract from election losses, backfiring shutdowns, and who knows what else." JPMorgan Chase, which previously settled a multi-million-dollar lawsuit with Epstein’s victims, told CNN, "The government had information about his crimes and failed to share it with us or other banks. We regret any association we had with the man, but did not help him commit his heinous acts. We ended our relationship with him years before his arrest on sex trafficking charges." Nevertheless, reporting from Fortune and others has shown that JPMorgan continued to do business with Epstein until 2013, even after his 2008 conviction.
Hoffman’s connection to Epstein began in 2013, when he helped solicit donations for the MIT Media Lab, then directed by Joi Ito, who introduced the two men. That year, Hoffman met Epstein at MIT’s campus, even though Epstein was already a registered sex offender. In 2014, Hoffman visited Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, for a fundraising event at Ito’s request, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Documents also reveal that Hoffman planned another visit to the island later that year and considered staying overnight at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in December 2014, possibly for a breakfast event with Bill Gates. Whether this event took place remains unclear.
Hoffman’s last known in-person meeting with Epstein occurred in 2015, during a dinner Hoffman hosted that included Silicon Valley luminaries like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Peter Thiel. Hoffman later stated he invited Epstein based on Ito’s assurances that Epstein had been vetted and cleared by MIT. In 2023, Hoffman insisted this was their final meeting. However, emails reviewed by Fortune show that Epstein wrote to Hoffman as late as March 16, 2017, discussing the creation of a "HUGE donor advised fund" to offset Trump’s proposed federal spending cuts. The email mused about wealthy individuals stepping in to support government functions, but there’s no evidence Hoffman replied.
After Epstein’s death by suicide in a New York jail in 2019, MIT’s external investigation confirmed much of this timeline. In July 2016, Ito sought Hoffman’s advice on whether to allow Epstein to attend a Media Lab conference, but the report did not specify Hoffman’s response. Despite accusations from some, including Elon Musk, no evidence has emerged that Hoffman was a client of Epstein’s, and Hoffman has issued several public apologies for his association. In a 2019 statement to Axios, Hoffman said, "By agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice. For this, I am deeply regretful." He reiterated in 2023 to the Journal, "It gnaws at me that, by lending my association, I helped his reputation, and thus delayed justice for his survivors."
As the House prepares to vote on November 19, 2025, Speaker Mike Johnson has predicted a "large vote tally" for the resolution, especially after Trump urged Republicans to support it. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse are scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill in support, and advocacy groups like World Without Exploitation have projected their images onto Washington buildings with the message, "Congress, release all of the files."
The measure, however, faces hurdles. After passing the House, it must go to the Senate, where amendments could slow its progress. The resolution allows Attorney General Bondi to withhold documents that might jeopardize ongoing investigations or prosecutions. Speaker Johnson has expressed concerns about the measure’s drafting but hopes the Senate will "correct" these issues, particularly regarding the protection of victims and whistle-blowers.
Trump, who initially pressured Republicans to reject the resolution, reversed course on November 17, saying he would support and sign it into law if it passed both chambers. Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, argued that Trump could release the files immediately, accusing him of trying to "deflect and slow down our investigation." Republican Representative Thomas Massie expressed suspicion over Trump’s sudden change of heart but predicted overwhelming support for the resolution. "We're worried that maybe they'll try to muck it up in the Senate," he told CNN.
For now, the nation waits as Congress prepares to decide the fate of the Epstein files, with survivors, politicians, and the public demanding answers—and accountability—at every turn.
