WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following is a statement by Amb. (ret) Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, regarding the vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to advance a measure that would force the Trump administration to release the full Trump-Epstein files.

“Today's vote is an important step forward for the countless victims and for the American public. They deserve transparency and truth. It is important to note that President Trump could at any time order the release of these long-hidden files and long-held secrets, and he should.

“Given the identification of the Trump-related records, and the subsequent slowrolling and stonewalling by his DOJ and allies in Congress (until they caved), there appears to be an active effort to hide evidence of Trump’s connections to Epstein from the public. This is why we have been demanding these records. Whether by a vote in the Senate or a judge’s order, they must be released immediately and in their entirety - while properly protecting the interests of victims. We will continue pursuing our litigation to complement the Congressional push which will now move to the Senate."

Following Attorney General Pam Bondi’s reversal on releasing the files in July, DDF filed a series of FOIA requests for records related to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The organization is seeking documents that mention President Trump and his Mar-a-Lago residence, the DOJ’s handling of references to Donald Trump or Mar-a-Lago in the files and the abrupt transfer of Maxwell to a minimum security prison camp, following her meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

In August, the organization filed a lawsuit challenging the DOJ’s refusal to release the records. The lawsuit asks the court to order the government to produce the requested documents, as required by public records laws.

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Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.