Additional Coverage:
- One month after the Epstein files deadline, only a fraction of the DOJ’s records have been released (nbcnews.com)
Justice Department Under Fire Over Epstein Files Delays, Lawmakers Threaten Action
WASHINGTON D.C. – One month past its deadline, the U.S. Justice Department is facing mounting criticism and threats of legal action for its failure to fully release all files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, only a fraction of the mandated records have been made public, leading to frustration among victims and a stern rebuke from the act’s co-authors.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have voiced strong warnings regarding the Justice Department’s compliance.
In a statement to NBC News, Rep. Massie accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of “making illegal redactions and withholding key documents that would implicate associates of Epstein,” though he did not elaborate on the basis of these claims.
The Justice Department declined to comment directly on Massie’s allegations, instead referencing a recent court filing.
Rep. Khanna echoed these concerns, calling the Justice Department’s “refusal to follow the law” an “obstruction of justice.”
He emphasized the need for the release of FBI witness interviews that reportedly name other individuals involved, stating, “The survivors and the public demand transparency and justice.” Khanna and Massie are now moving to bring “inherent contempt” against Bondi and have requested the appointment of a special master to oversee the document release process.
In response to these demands, the Justice Department, in a Friday court filing, asserted that Representatives Khanna and Massie lack the legal standing to challenge its compliance with the Act. The filing, signed by Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, stated, “Accordingly, Representatives Khanna and Massie do not have standing to ‘raise issues concerning DOJ’s compliance with the Act’.”
A separate court filing from the Justice Department on Thursday claimed “substantial progress” in releasing materials while “protecting victim privacy.” It cited the need for “careful, manual review” of a significant number of documents to redact victim-identifying information.
However, victims and their advocates contend that the Justice Department is prioritizing the wrong protections. In a letter to the Justice Department’s inspector general, a group of Epstein survivors and victims’ relatives complained of “selective” redactions, alleging that names of alleged abusers were withheld while identifying details of survivors were left visible. They argued these actions have caused “renewed harm to survivors and undermined trust.”
Another point of contention, raised by both the lawmakers and victims, is the Justice Department’s alleged non-compliance with the law’s requirement to explain its redactions. An attorney for the congressmen argued this omission hinders effective oversight and judicial review.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 19, mandated the release of all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to Epstein within 30 days. On December 19, the deadline, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated the release of hundreds of thousands of documents, with the remainder expected within a “couple of weeks,” citing the extensive task of redacting information for over 1,000 victims.
To date, the Justice Department has reportedly posted “approximately 12,285 documents (comprising approximately 125,575 pages).” Yet, a recent court filing acknowledged that “millions” of pages still remain outstanding, with over five hundred reviewers engaged in the process. A timeline for the full release has not been provided.
Among the unreleased documents are internal discussions surrounding a controversial July memo from the FBI and Justice Department. That memo stated an “exhaustive” review found no evidence to charge anyone else in the case and that no further information would be released, a stance that drew significant political backlash.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in conspiring to sex traffic minors.