119-sres325

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 325 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 325

 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Justice 
 should release appropriate, non-sensitive materials related to the 
 investigation of Jeffery Epstein to restore public trust, affirm 
 institutional accountability, and prevent the politicization of 
 justice.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 17, 2025

 Mr. Gallego submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Department of Justice 
 should release appropriate, non-sensitive materials related to the 
 investigation of Jeffery Epstein to restore public trust, affirm 
 institutional accountability, and prevent the politicization of 
 justice.

Whereas the investigation into the sex-trafficking network operated by Jeffery 
 Epstein (referred to in this preamble as the ``Epstein investigation'') 
 raised urgent questions about how a wealthy, well-connected individual 
 was able to commit crimes against minors with impunity for years;
Whereas, in July 2019, Epstein was arrested on Federal sex-trafficking charges 
 and died by suicide weeks later in Federal custody at the Metropolitan 
 Correctional Center in New York, precluding a public trial and full 
 airing of evidence;
Whereas, following the death of Epstein, many victims, advocates, and members of 
 the public called for comprehensive transparency and accountability, 
 including access to materials gathered during the Epstein investigation 
 that could be released lawfully;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on a television 
 station broadcasted across the United States that a ``client list'' 
 related to the network operated by Epstein was ``sitting on [her] 
 desk'';
Whereas Bondi, alongside the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
 Kash Patel and the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of 
 Investigation Dan Bongino, repeatedly pledged to deliver full 
 transparency, suggesting that key documents, including flight logs and 
 black books, were being reviewed and prepared for public release;
Whereas, in 2023, Patel stated that Epstein's ``black book'' was ``under direct 
 control of the Director of the FBI'' and that Trump ``should roll out 
 the black book'' on day one;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi distributed binders 
 labeled ``The Epstein Files: Phase 1'' to a group of right-wing 
 influencers during a White House visit, claiming they contained 
 declassified materials from the Epstein investigation;
Whereas, in February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly alleged that she 
 was misled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the scope of 
 the Epstein investigation files, stating in a letter to the Director of 
 the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel that a whistleblower had 
 informed her that the New York Field Office for the Federal Bureau of 
 Investigation was in possession of thousands of pages of additional 
 documents that had not been disclosed despite repeated requests;
Whereas these statements were amplified by senior officials and widely 
 disseminated across traditional and social media, creating a legitimate 
 public expectation that the Department of Justice would release 
 meaningful new disclosures;
Whereas, in July 2025, the Department of Justice issued an unsigned, 2-page 
 memorandum stating there was no ``client list'', no evidence of 
 blackmail schemes involving public figures, and that further disclosure 
 of materials was not ``appropriate or warranted'';
Whereas the memo did not provide an explanation of how these determinations were 
 reached, nor did it specify which documents had been reviewed or why 
 materials earlier described as forthcoming were now being withheld;
Whereas this abrupt reversal, paired with a lack of accountability or 
 clarification from leadership in the Department of Justice, has fueled 
 further speculation, intensified misinformation, and contributed to a 
 public perception that political considerations, not legal standards, 
 are governing disclosure decisions;
Whereas victims of the abuse carried out by Epstein or related to his 
 trafficking network, along with the broader public, deserve clarity on 
 what happened, how evidence has been handled, and whether any 
 institutional failures contributed to the delayed or incomplete pursuit 
 of justice;
Whereas public trust in the Department of Justice depends on consistent, fact-
 based communications and a demonstrated commitment to accountability 
 that transcends political pressure;
Whereas the disclosure of non-sensitive materials, such as timelines, 
 investigatory summaries, indices of sealed filings, and previously 
 released documents in structured formats, would serve the public 
 interest while protecting the privacy and dignity of victims; and
Whereas the responsible release of information ensures that public institutions 
 are transparent, credible, and accountable to the people they serve: 
 Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

    (1) prior to any other action related to the investigation 
 of Jeffery Epstein (referred to in this resolving clause as the 
 ``Epstein investigation''), the Department of Justice should 
 meet with the identified victims of Jeffery Epstein and their 
 representatives to answer questions about the investigations 
 and prosecutions related to the Epstein investigation and to 
 provide the materials the Department of Justice intends to make 
 public;

    (2) the Department of Justice should publicly clarify the 
 full scope of materials in its possession related to the 
 Epstein investigation, including which materials have been 
 reviewed and which remain under seal;

    (3) the Department of Justice should release all 
 appropriate records related to the Epstein investigation, such 
 as flight manifests, investigatory summaries, chain-of-custody 
 documentation, and any material previously entered into the 
 public record but not widely disseminated;

    (4) any internal memos or legal analyses justifying the 
 withholding of materials related to the Epstein investigation 
 should be released, in redacted form where appropriate, to 
 clarify the basis for the determinations of the Department of 
 Justice and protect the identity of victims;

    (5) the Department of Justice must correct prior misleading 
 or inaccurate statements by senior officials of the Department 
 of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the 
 existence of certain records, timelines for review, and 
 commitments to transparency, related to the Epstein 
 investigation;

    (6) public officials have a responsibility to communicate 
 accurately and responsibly, particularly in matters involving 
 victims of sex trafficking and public corruption, and failure 
 to do so undermines faith in the justice system;

    (7) the Senate reaffirms its support for full 
 accountability regarding the Epstein investigation, including 
 the identification of any co-conspirators, public or private, 
 whose conduct was criminal, and calls upon the Department of 
 Justice to explain what steps, if any, it has taken to pursue 
 such co-conspirators;

    (8) the Department of Justice should prioritize victim 
 protection in any future disclosures, including by redacting 
 personal information, withholding identifying images, and 
 ensuring that materials cannot be used to re-traumatize victims 
 or incite harassment; and

    (9) the Senate recognizes that truth and transparency are 
 essential to countering misinformation, preventing future 
 abuse, and preserving the integrity of public institutions and 
 the justice system.
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