S.Amdt. 3771

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Merkley, aims to add a section called Epstein Files Transparency to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to require the Attorney General to make unclassified records and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein publicly available in a format that is searchable and downloadable.

The amendment seeks to mandate the release of the following:

• Records and documents from the Department of Justice, including the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Offices, regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
• Travel and flight records for aircraft, vessels, or vehicles used by Epstein or related entities.
• Information on individuals, including government officials, linked to Epstein's criminal activities, settlements, or proceedings.
• Details on entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, or governmental) with ties to Epstein's financial or trafficking networks.
• Legal agreements, such as immunity deals, plea bargains, or sealed settlements.
• Internal communications regarding the decision to investigate or charge Epstein and his associates.
• Records concerning the destruction or concealment of evidence and data.
• Documentation on the detention and death of Jeffrey Epstein.

The amendment specifies that information cannot be withheld based on political sensitivity, reputational harm, or embarrassment to any public figure, foreign dignitary, or government official.

It allows for certain permitted withholdings, such as child pornography, imagery of physical abuse or death, personal information of child witnesses or victims, information that jeopardizes active investigations, or properly classified national defense information.

Finally, the Attorney General must provide a report to Congress listing what was released or withheld, the legal basis for redactions, and a list of the government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries named in the released records.