Congressmen Vow to Act After Justice Department Falls Short on Epstein Files Disclosure

Congressmen who pushed to release Jeffrey Epstein files expressed disappointment and frustration on Friday after the Justice Department's extensive redactions did not comply with the law that Congress passed last month mandating their disclosure. According to Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat and one of the lawmakers who led the effort on the legislation, the document dump did not meet the requirements of the law. Khanna stated in a video posted on X that the Justice Department's release of the files included a New York grand jury document with all 119 pages blacked out, despite a federal judge ordering them to release that document. Khanna emphasized that the law requires the government to provide explanations for redactions, but none were provided in the released files. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, also expressed his concerns about the redactions. In a separate X post, Massie stated that Attorney General Pam Bondi has been "obfuscating" for months and that the files released on Friday were incomplete with too many redactions. Massie and Khanna have been vocal about their efforts to ensure transparency in the release of the Epstein files. The legislation passed by Congress last month required the Justice Department to release its entire trove of documents related to the Epstein case by today. The files were expected to shed more light on the sex trafficking ring operated by Epstein and potentially implicate other rich and powerful individuals who were associated with him. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the concerns raised by Khanna and Massie. The lawmakers have indicated that they are exploring all options, including impeachment, to ensure that the law is enforced and the public has access to the information they are seeking. In the past, Epstein's associates, including Prince Andrew and former President Donald Trump's friend, Ghislaine Maxwell, have been accused of participating in or enabling Epstein's sex trafficking activities. The released files are expected to provide more insight into these allegations and potentially lead to further investigations. The current status of the situation is that the Justice Department has released the files, but with extensive redactions that have raised concerns among lawmakers. The lawmakers are now exploring their options to ensure that the law is enforced and the public has access to the information they are seeking.