The Justice Department faced legal threats and widespread criticism after releasing a heavily redacted set of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a move lawmakers say violates a law mandating near-complete disclosure of the files by Friday. Officials released some new files Saturday, including transcripts, while also removing over a dozen others from its website without explanation.
Lawmakers Allege Non-Compliance with Transparency Act
“The justice department’s document dump this afternoon does not comply with Thomas Massie and my Epstein Transparency Act,” said California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna in a video statement. “It is an incomplete release, with too many redactions. Thomas Massie and I are exploring all options,” including potential impeachment of Justice Department officials and finding them in contempt of Congress.
Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, co-author of the legislation, stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law” signed by former President Donald Trump 30 days prior. He added that a future Justice Department could potentially prosecute current officials due to the nature of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Missing Files Fuel Speculation
Frustration grew as the Justice Department released additional files Saturday, but also removed more than a dozen from its public webpage, with no explanation provided. At least 16 files disappeared, including images of paintings depicting nude women and a photograph showing Donald Trump, Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell in a drawer among other photos.
House oversight committee Democrats pointed to the missing image featuring Trump in a post on X, questioning what else was being concealed. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the handling of the files release potentially “one of the biggest cover ups in American history.”
Legal Requirements and Initial Response
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the release of all investigative files by December 19th, with exceptions for ongoing criminal investigations, national security concerns, or the identification of Epstein’s victims. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer and current deputy attorney general, acknowledged Friday that the department would not release all files immediately, anticipating several hundred thousand documents over the coming weeks.
Bipartisan Criticism
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fellow Democratic congressman Robert Garcia were among those criticizing the Justice Department, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, for the rollout of the documents. Garcia stated the department was “breaking the law” and called for the immediate release of all files.
In a joint statement, Garcia and Jamie Raskin accused Trump and the Justice Department of violating federal law and covering up details of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, stating they were examining all legal options.
Schumer said the release violated both “the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law,” and that Senate Democrats were assessing the documents to determine further action.
Justice Department Defense
The Justice Department defended its actions on social media, highlighting the release of photos of Bill Clinton and claiming this demonstrated accountability. (Clinton has denied wrongdoing related to Epstein and expressed regret for previously associating with him.)
“To set the record straight: No Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) were redacted from today’s released Epstein documents. All references to PEPs were disclosed in full. Do you not see Clinton’s face??” a Justice Department media relations account stated on X.
The Associated Press and Marina Dunbar contributed reporting
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