In a move that has sparked significant legal threats and widespread outrage, the Justice Department under Donald Trump released a limited and heavily redacted set of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This release appears to violate the law that mandates near-complete disclosure of these documents by the deadline of December 19. California Congressman Ro Khanna, who co-authored the Epstein Transparency Act, criticized the department's actions, stating, “The Justice Department’s document dump this afternoon does not comply with the Epstein Transparency Act.”
Khanna emphasized the incomplete nature of the document release, which he described as having too many redactions. He stated that he and fellow co-author Thomas Massie are exploring all legal avenues, including potential impeachment of Justice Department officials and possible contempt of Congress charges. Khanna further suggested that they may consider referring those obstructing justice for prosecution.
Massie echoed Khanna's sentiments on social media, asserting that the recent release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law” that Trump signed just 30 days prior. He pointed out that future administrations could hold current officials accountable under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as it does not expire like a Congressional subpoena.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the Justice Department to release all investigative files concerning Epstein by December 19. While the law permits certain records to be withheld or redacted to protect ongoing investigations or the identities of victims, it mandates the release of everything else. However, the initial release by the department on Friday did not comply with these legal requirements.
On a Fox News interview, Todd Blanche, Trump’s former criminal defense attorney and now Deputy Attorney General, announced that the department would release several hundred thousand documents, with more expected in the following weeks. He stated, “We want to make sure that when we do produce the materials, we are protecting every single victim.” Despite these assurances, the subsequent release included missing files, raising alarms among lawmakers and the public.
Reports indicate that at least 16 files related to Epstein vanished from the Justice Department’s public webpage. This includes images of nude paintings and a photograph featuring Trump, Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell, which has fueled speculation about what was omitted and why the public was not informed. Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee pointed out the missing images, questioning, “What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.”
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the chorus of criticism, declaring that the “coverup is out in the open” and calling for accountability from Trump’s administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi. Fellow Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia condemned the Justice Department’s actions as illegal and demanded the full release of the Epstein files. He stated, “The American public deserves transparency. Release all the files now!”
In a joint statement, Garcia and fellow committee member Jamie Raskin accused Trump and the Justice Department of violating federal law while covering up details surrounding Epstein’s extensive sex trafficking ring. They added, “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also expressed his concern, stating that the release violates both the spirit and letter of the law, adding that Senate Democrats are assessing the released documents to determine what actions to pursue for accountability.
In response to the mounting criticism, the Justice Department has defended its actions, asserting on social media that they are complying with the law. A Justice Department account highlighted the release of numerous photographs of Bill Clinton, attempting to showcase their commitment to transparency while claiming that no politically exposed persons were redacted from the documents released.
The controversy surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files continues to unfold as lawmakers demand full accountability and transparency from the Trump administration.