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On January 30, 2026, the DOJ finally released what it calls ‘the complete Epstein files’, completing the mandate given by Congress in November. While the files released on January 30 still contained a litany of redactions, the files are the most complete picture the public has received about Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal sex-trafficking enterprise and the involvement of dozens of high-profile politicians and celebrities.

While the Epstein files have largely remained above the fold due to possible criminal connections between Epstein and U.S. President Donald Trump, the release does not seem to include any documents showing criminal wrongdoing by Trump. Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed that the DOJ did not protect President Trump in the released files.  

While Blanche claims that the file release marks full compliance with the congressional act to make the files public, House Democrats disagree. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who sponsored the act, claimed that the DOJ had grossly fallen short of the requirement.

According to Rep. Khanna, the DOJ is in possession of more than six million files pertaining to Epstein, but it has only released 3.5 million. While Blanche claimed there is a ‘very small’ batch of files that have not been released, 2.5 million files is not a small anything.

Rep. Khanna said that the limited release sparks questions about why so many files had to be withheld.

Some documents not released

Blanche announced on January 30^th that what he describes as a ‘very small’ portion of the documents is being withheld temporarily. The hold is due to a civil lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, which causes the documents to be subject to a protective order. According to Blanche, the documents were material that a law firm submitted in 2019 under a grand jury subpoena during Maxwell’s criminal investigation.

Since the documents are under a protective order, Blanche said the DOJ decided it would need to seek court permission for them to be released. If the motion is granted, Blanche claims the DOJ would release the ‘very small batch’.

Mentions of Trump

While the latest file dump does not include any official documents that prove Donald Trump was involved in Epstein’s criminal pedophilia ring, there are dozens of documents from victims pointing to Donald Trump.

The allegations will not be usable in a criminal conviction.

One lengthy document contains three complaints about Trump, accusing him of rape. One complaint claims that Donald Trump forced an unidentified female to perform acts on him in the 1990’s, when she was just 13. According to the victim, she bit Trump and was hit by the President afterwards.

Another accusation claims that Donald Trump was one of the ‘brokers’ of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal sex parties, and that, along with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump was involved in the planning and recruitment for Epstein’s infamous parties. The complainant also reported that Donald Trump ran a sex trafficking ring alongside Jeffrey Epstein out of the Trump Gold Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

While this second accusation was deemed uncredible by the FBI, the agency never closed the door on the first accusation of Trump engaging with a 13-year-old.

A memo from January 2020 showed that Donald Trump flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane significantly more times than the DOJ originally thought. Trump flew with Epstein at least eight times between 1993 and 1996 – the height of Epstein’s criminal escapades. In files released months earlier, a memo from Ghislaine Maxwell to Epstein claimed that Trump was ‘the dog that hadn’t barked’, implying the President knows proprietary information regarding Epstein’s actions, and that he’s refrained from making them public.

Melinda French Gates has spoken publicly about the renewed scrutiny surrounding her ex-husband after Bill Gates’ name appeared in the latest tranche of the Epstein files, describing the episode as reopening «very, very painful times in my marriage». She addressed the issue during an interview on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, responding to questions from host Rachel Martin about newly released documents referencing Bill Gates in connection with Jeffrey Epstein. Melinda, now 61, framed her reaction through the lens of Epstein’s abuse of women and girls, saying the revelations had resurfaced deep personal memories tied to the final years of her marriage and its eventual collapse.

The documents at the center of the controversy were released last week by the US Department of Justice and include draft emails written by Epstein to himself more than a decade ago. In one message dated in 2013, Epstein claimed that Bill Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted infection during an affair with «Russian girls» and had asked Epstein for help, including antibiotics allegedly intended to be given to Melinda. The emails contain graphic and unverified assertions. There is no indication the claims were ever substantiated, and Epstein’s writings were not sent to Gates or confirmed by any third party.

«I think we’re having a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him.»

-Melinda French Gates

A spokesperson for Bill Gates has categorically denied the allegations described in the Epstein emails, calling them «absolutely absurd and completely false». In a statement provided to PEOPLE, the spokesperson said the documents demonstrate Epstein’s efforts to «entrap and defame» Gates after failing to maintain an ongoing relationship with him. Bill Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein in the past, describing those interactions as a mistake, but he has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s offenses. His representatives declined to comment further on Melinda’s remarks.

During the NPR interview, Melinda French Gates emphasized that accountability for the questions raised by the documents does not rest with her. «Whatever questions remain there of what I don’t — can’t even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me,» she said. Reflecting more broadly, she added: «I think we’re having a reckoning as a society, right?» and stressed that no girl should ever have been subjected to the abuse carried out by Epstein and enabled by powerful circles around him.

The revelations have also reopened discussion about the Gates’ divorce, announced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. In her memoir, The Next Day, Melinda wrote about mounting turmoil in the relationship in 2019 and 2020, including recurring nightmares and deep emotional strain. She alluded to Bill Gates’ infidelity and his ties to Epstein as contributing factors. Speaking to NPR, she said the renewed allegations brought «unbelievable sadness», adding that revisiting those years remains personally difficult even as she has moved forward with her life.

«Whatever questions remain there of what I don’t — can’t even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.»

-Melinda French Gates

Melinda French Gates concluded her remarks by distancing herself from both the controversy and her former marriage, while returning repeatedly to the impact Epstein’s abuse had on women and girls. «It’s beyond heartbreaking, right? I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages,» she said, explaining why the latest revelations were personally difficult to revisit. «So for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right, because [it] brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.» While expressing hope for justice for Epstein’s victims, she said she felt relief at having left what she described as «all the muck that was there». «At least for me, I’ve been able to move on in life,» she added, as the release of new files continues to force public figures to confront past associations.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein inquiry, backing down after weeks of refusing to appear and facing the prospect of a House vote to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress. Their attorneys told committee staff that the Clintons accept Chairman James Comer’s terms and «will appear for depositions on mutually agreeable dates», while asking Republicans to halt the contempt process. Comer said he would not drop the effort immediately, telling reporters: «We don’t have anything in writing», and adding that any deal would depend on finalized terms.

The committee’s pressure campaign accelerated after Comer rejected earlier Clinton proposals that would have avoided full depositions. According to reporting, Bill Clinton had offered a transcribed interview and Hillary Clinton a sworn declaration, but Comer insisted both comply with in-person, sworn depositions under the committee’s rules. «The Clintons do not get to dictate the terms of lawful subpoenas,» Comer said, as the panel moved contempt resolutions through procedural steps toward a potential floor vote. The Oversight Committee had issued subpoenas in August, and the contempt push gained unusual bipartisan support in committee, with some Democrats voting to advance the measures in the name of transparency.

Their agreement arrives amid a surge of new disclosures tied to Epstein, after the Justice Department released a massive tranche of investigative material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. DOJ said it published more than 3 million additional pages on Jan. 30 in compliance with the law, which it noted was signed by Trump on Nov. 19, 2025, and it has continued posting materials to an official Epstein Library webpage. The release has been accompanied by controversy over redactions and victim protections, with AP reporting DOJ pulled thousands of documents and media files after inadequate redactions exposed sensitive victim information.

«Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem! Don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!»

-Donald Trump

As the document releases expanded, renewed attention has focused on the range of prominent names that appear across Epstein-related materials and images. AP and PBS reporting on the latest disclosures describe references to wealthy and politically connected figures, and House Oversight Committee Democrats have separately released photos from Epstein’s estate that include images of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as other high-profile individuals such as Bill Gates and Prince Andrew, while noting that the context, time frame, and location of many photos are unclear. The disclosures have fueled fresh calls for accountability alongside debates over what the files do and do not establish.

Trump has sought to steer the political narrative toward Democrats, repeatedly framing Epstein as a problem for his opponents while demanding scrutiny of figures such as Bill Clinton and Bill Gates. In one statement reported by France 24, Trump wrote: «Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!», adding: «Don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!» That posture has informed Republican messaging around the Oversight probe, with Comer and allies emphasizing Clinton’s past proximity to Epstein while also acknowledging Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in those interactions.

But the same files and photo releases have repeatedly pulled Trump back into the frame, complicating efforts to make the controversy a one-party story. The Justice Department release described by AP centers on what investigators knew about Epstein’s abuse and his interactions with the rich and powerful, including Trump, while congressional Democrats have highlighted Trump’s presence in Epstein estate photos as part of their transparency push. Against that backdrop, critics argue that Trump’s focus on Democrats functions as a political shield, even as official releases continue to surface material in which his name and image appear alongside other prominent figures connected to Epstein’s orbit.

President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to «take over» and «nationalize» elections, escalating rhetoric about the US voting system as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Trump made the comments during an interview with former FBI director Dan Bongino, accusing states of corruption and falsely suggesting widespread electoral misconduct. «The Republicans should say, We want to take over,» Trump said.

«We should take over the voting … in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked and they’re counting votes.» Trump did not provide evidence to support his claims or explain how such a takeover would be implemented within existing constitutional limits.

Trump’s remarks reflect a continued effort to undermine confidence in election administration, particularly at the state level, which the US Constitution explicitly assigns authority over federal elections. While Trump has repeatedly asserted that elections are being improperly conducted, experts and election officials have consistently stated that noncitizen voting is extremely rare and already illegal.

During the interview, Trump expressed frustration that Republicans were «not tougher» on the issue, again alleging improper influence on outcomes. He offered no data to substantiate the claims, instead framing the issue as an urgent political failure by his party rather than a matter addressed through established legal and electoral safeguards.

«Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution?»

-Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer

The comments came as federal authorities carried out a highly sensitive action tied to the 2020 election. Last week, the FBI executed a court-authorized search at the Fulton County Elections and Operations Hub in Georgia, seizing original 2020 voting records. Georgia was a key swing state that Joe Biden won in 2020. Trump immediately pointed to the seizure as validation of his long-standing claims, despite the absence of any public findings indicating fraud.

«Now you’re going to see something in Georgia where they were able to get, with a court order, the ballots,» Trump said. «You’re going to see some interesting things come out.»

Trump’s response to the FBI action fits a broader pattern in which he treats investigative steps as confirmation of wrongdoing, even when authorities have not alleged criminal conduct related to election results. Federal officials have not said the seized materials indicate fraud, and court records have not overturned Georgia’s certified outcome. Nonetheless, Trump has continued to portray the investigation as evidence that his loss was illegitimate. He has repeatedly claimed he either won Georgia or was the victim of a rigged process, assertions that have been rejected by courts, state officials, recounts, and independent audits conducted after the 2020 election.

«We should take over the voting … in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that are so crooked and they’re counting votes.»

-Donald Trump

Democratic leaders reacted sharply to Trump’s call to «nationalize» elections, warning that the proposal runs directly counter to constitutional law. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the comments on the Senate floor, saying Trump’s statements were «outlandishly illegal». «Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution?» Schumer said, pointing to the Elections Clause, which grants states authority over voting procedures subject to congressional regulation. Legal scholars have similarly noted that Trump’s comments lack a legal framework and would require sweeping changes that Congress has neither debated nor approved.

Despite repeated debunking of his claims, Trump has continued to insist that the 2020 election was «rigged» or that he actually won, a narrative he has sustained throughout his presidency and beyond. The renewed focus on elections comes as Trump has warned Republicans that failure to win the midterms could lead to impeachment efforts against him. His rhetoric, critics argue, keeps election legitimacy at the center of partisan conflict while relying on allegations unsupported by evidence, even as federal investigations and court rulings have consistently affirmed the integrity of the 2020 vote.