Khanna, Massie seek access to unredacted Epstein files amid growing transparency dispute
WASHINGTON, DC: The two bipartisan sponsors of legislation that compelled the Justice Department to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein are now pressing the department for access to unredacted versions of key documents.
Republican Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep Ro Khanna of California sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting a meeting to review materials, including emails from Epstein’s accounts, victim interview statements, and draft charging and prosecution memoranda prepared by federal prosecutors in Florida.
The lawmakers said inconsistencies in redactions have impeded congressional oversight. “We have seen a blanket approach to redactions in some areas, while in other cases, victim names were not redacted at all. Congress cannot properly assess the Department’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases without access to the complete record,” Massie and Khanna wrote.
DOJ points to review process under transparency law
The Epstein Files Transparency Act permits the Justice Department to withhold limited information, including victims’ personal details. Blanche said on Friday that members of Congress could arrange with the department to view unredacted files under controlled conditions.
In a press release accompanying the latest document release, the Justice Department said some of the material includes false or unverified claims, including allegations involving President Donald Trump.
“This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents, or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act,” the department said. It added that certain claims submitted shortly before the 2020 election were “unfounded and false” and would have been acted upon if credible.
DOJ says scope of records and sources disclosed
According to the department, the released records draw from five primary sources, including the federal cases against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a Florida investigation involving one of Epstein’s former butlers, multiple FBI probes, and an internal Justice Department watchdog investigation into Epstein’s death.
The Justice Department said that “notable individuals and politicians were not redacted in the release of any files.”
DOJ declares compliance with congressional mandate
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche also sent a six-page letter to Congress on Friday, stating that the document production fulfills the department’s obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“Today’s release marks the end of a comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance with the Act,” the letter said, describing the effort as “unprecedented and extensive.”
The Justice Department disclosed approximately 3 million pages of records tied to its investigation into Epstein, which included over 2,000 videos and around 180,000 images.
Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, accused the DOJ of deliberately violating the law. In a statement, Garcia said the administration is withholding a significant portion of the Epstein files while claiming full compliance.
