Question 1

What does S5005 do?

Accepted Answer

The Epstein Files Transparency Act II is a sweeping transparency and accountability measure designed to compel the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their criminal network. Building upon the original Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119–38), this legislation dramatically expands access rights, enforcement mechanisms, and the universe of parties entitled to obtain unredacted records. The bill's central objective is to eliminate the institutional barriers — including common law privileges, regulatory gatekeeping procedures, and bureaucratic delay — that have historically shielded investigative materials from public scrutiny. It creates affirmative legal rights for victims of Epstein and Maxwell's criminal network, empowers Members of Congress and State law enforcement officials to demand records on expedited timelines, and establishes criminal penalties for federal officials who obstruct, conceal, or misrepresent the existence or content of covered materials. The legislation reflects a congressional determination that the public interest in full disclosure of the Epstein investigation outweighs any executive branch interest in withholding these records.

Question 2

Who sponsored S5005?

Accepted Answer

Jeff Merkley, Ben Lujan

Question 3

What is the status of S5005?

Accepted Answer

Introduced as of July 15, 2026.

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