Will Trump delay releasing the Epstein Files?

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Donald Trump says he will sign a bill to release the Epstein Files after it passed nearly unanimously through both houses of Congress. It’s a notable shift in position from the president, who’s come under increasing pressure from Republicans and Democrats to release all files held by the Justice Department on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Will Trump be able to turn this into a victory, and will he be able to repair the rift that’s been growing among sections of his MAGA base?

Justin, Sarah and Marianna take a look at what we know so far about Epstein’s relationships with powerful figures in the US, and what we can expect to see from the Epstein Files once they’re released into the public domain.

And we assess just how significant a moment this is in Donald Trump’s second term as president, the tactics he may deploy to turn it into a political victory, and why he told one female reporter to be ‘quiet, piggy’ when asked about the Epstein Files on Air Force One.

HOSTS:

- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter - Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent - Sarah Smith, North America editor

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This episode was made by George Dabby, Grace Reeve and Laura Cain. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:07.2	If you're the person always being asked, what's happening in the news?
0:10.9	You could do with a podcast wingman.
0:13.3	Newscast is just that, a little voice in your ear,
0:16.5	giving you a deeper understanding of what's going on in the world.
0:19.5	We won't even mind if you try and take the credit yourself.
0:22.4	Listen to Newscast every day on BBC Sounds.
0:26.2	A huge drama in Washington with potentially huge ramifications around the United States.
0:31.3	The Epstein files are a big step closer to being made public after both houses of Congress
0:37.3	back to bill that compels the US Justice Department to release all of its files from the investigations into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
0:46.2	All that's left for Donald Trump now is to sign it into law.
0:49.5	How long will it be before the public now get to see the files?
0:53.7	Is it enough to end a growing rift between the president and his own party base?
0:59.7	Welcome to AmeriCast.
1:03.5	AmeriCast from BBC News.
1:06.5	When Donald Trump calls, they say, yes, sir.
1:08.8	Right away, sir.
1:10.0	Happy to lick your boot, sir. We are the
1:12.3	sickest country in the world. Oh, dear. Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?
1:17.8	Of course the president supports peaceful protest. What a stupid question. Are you still talking about
1:21.9	Jeffrey Epstein?
1:32.7	Hello, it's Sarah here in the BBC's Bureau in Washington.
	...

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