US Lawmakers Demand Justice Department Release All Epstein Files, Claim Department is 'Not Trusted' to Disclose Information
Two prominent US lawmakers, Ro Khanna of California and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, have urged a federal judge to appoint a special master to force the release of all remaining files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced financier and convicted sex offender was accused of numerous counts of sex trafficking, abuse, and murder, leading to widespread outrage.
The lawmakers claim that the Justice Department has failed to meet its deadline to disclose all relevant documents on December 19 last year as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a letter to US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, Khanna and Massie criticized the department's handling of the case, stating that it is "not only a flagrant violation" of the act but also poses a significant threat to survivors who have been affected by Epstein's actions.
According to the Justice Department, only 12,285 documents were released so far, accounting for less than 1% of all related files. However, Khanna and Massie express doubts over these figures, citing inconsistencies in the department's reporting. They believe that the DOJ may be overstating the scope of responsive materials, thereby portraying compliance as unmanageable.
Furthermore, the lawmakers point out that the Justice Department has failed to submit required reports detailing redactions and records withheld from release within 15 days of the deadline to the House and Senate judiciary committees. This lack of transparency makes effective oversight and judicial review significantly more challenging.
As part of their request, Khanna and Massie asked Judge Engelmayer to grant authority to an independent monitor to notify the court about the true nature and extent of document production. They also expressed concerns that without this process in place, the DOJ would not produce records required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as it has represented to the court.
The lawmakers' actions follow recent criticism of the Justice Department's handling of the case, with many survivors expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and accountability. The push for full disclosure highlights ongoing concerns about justice and accountability in high-profile cases like Epstein's.
Two prominent US lawmakers, Ro Khanna of California and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, have urged a federal judge to appoint a special master to force the release of all remaining files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced financier and convicted sex offender was accused of numerous counts of sex trafficking, abuse, and murder, leading to widespread outrage.
The lawmakers claim that the Justice Department has failed to meet its deadline to disclose all relevant documents on December 19 last year as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a letter to US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, Khanna and Massie criticized the department's handling of the case, stating that it is "not only a flagrant violation" of the act but also poses a significant threat to survivors who have been affected by Epstein's actions.
According to the Justice Department, only 12,285 documents were released so far, accounting for less than 1% of all related files. However, Khanna and Massie express doubts over these figures, citing inconsistencies in the department's reporting. They believe that the DOJ may be overstating the scope of responsive materials, thereby portraying compliance as unmanageable.
Furthermore, the lawmakers point out that the Justice Department has failed to submit required reports detailing redactions and records withheld from release within 15 days of the deadline to the House and Senate judiciary committees. This lack of transparency makes effective oversight and judicial review significantly more challenging.
As part of their request, Khanna and Massie asked Judge Engelmayer to grant authority to an independent monitor to notify the court about the true nature and extent of document production. They also expressed concerns that without this process in place, the DOJ would not produce records required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as it has represented to the court.
The lawmakers' actions follow recent criticism of the Justice Department's handling of the case, with many survivors expressing frustration over the lack of transparency and accountability. The push for full disclosure highlights ongoing concerns about justice and accountability in high-profile cases like Epstein's.
the more I read, the more I wonder how can a department that's supposed to uphold the law be so sloppy with the release of documents? It's not just about transparency, it's also about accountability and making sure justice is served. These lawmakers are right to push for full disclosure and an independent monitor to keep an eye on things... 
it's time for some real oversight in this case. And can you believe they've only released 12,285 documents out of all the files? That's like saying 99% of the cake is edible when really, it's just a fraction of the truth! 
US lawmakers are seriously asking a judge to force the Justice Department to release ALL Epstein files lol what's taking so long?! 
12k docs released so far? that's like, 99% of nothing 
and now they're saying they might not even disclose all records? no thanks, can't trust them on this one 
It's like they want to keep some things under wraps. I mean, who do these lawmakers think are the ones getting misled here? The public, or just themselves so they can cover their own tails? 
. And yeah, it’s not just about justice, it's also about accountability – who was involved in covering it up? Who knew what? All this stuff should be out in the open so we can actually start making some sense of it 
. we need to know the truth, and we need it now 
. hope that judge gets some answers from the DOJ soon...
these lawmakers are doing us all a solid, at least
. And they're still hiding stuff behind redactions, which is just not cool 
. Just saying.
meanwhile only like 12k docs were released 
they cant just sit back and let justice dep get away with stonewalling survivors its all good for them though lol
still, these 2 lawmakers seem legit, their claims make sense too... i think what's really bothering me is that there's only 1% of documents released so far and they're saying it's less than 1%! how many are we talking about here? thousands or millions? i need to see the actual numbers before i can even try to form an opinion about this.
. Those lawmakers are spot on to demand more. We need to see all the files, no redactions, none of that nonsense. It's about time some accountability is brought to this department 
. i mean, yes, its prob a lil slow but not as if they r hiding anythin sinister... or r dey? 
. dont get me wrong, survivors deserve justice & transparency but let's not jump 2 conclusions yet 
. maybe the DOJ just needs more help w/ orgnization 
. Like, come on, 12k docs and you're still saying that's all you got? It doesn't add up, man. Those lawmakers are right to be skeptical – I'd be too if my sister was a survivor. Full disclosure is the only way to move forward from this mess. The more we know, the better we can hold people accountable for their actions. Can we please just get those records released already? 