On Friday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) slammed the Justice Department for not fully complying with the 30-day deadline established by the Epstein transparency law.
DOJ’s Friday Release
The Department of Justice announced it could not deliver every document within the mandated timeframe. Officials explained that they lacked the time to sift through thousands of pages to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims and other innocent parties. The agency released thousands of documents and promised additional material in the coming weeks.
Congressional Push for Full Disclosure
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the law’s chief sponsors, had fought for a bill that would compel the DOJ to hand over the complete Epstein files. The bill initially faced opposition from President Trump and Republican allies. In the summer, the pair brought alleged victims to Capitol Hill, urging GOP leaders to vote on the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declined, preferring an Oversight Committee probe.
The tide turned after the November government shutdown when Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) entered Congress and filed a discharge petition, forcing the bill to the floor. Johnson and other Republicans then supported the measure, and Senate Republicans followed suit. President Trump signed the law on Nov. 19, triggering a 30-day clock for the DOJ.
Massie’s Criticism
In a post on X, Massie wrote that the DOJ’s Friday release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago.” He pointed to the heavy-handed redactions that Rep. Khanna had previously criticized. Khanna had noted that a 119-page Grand Jury testimony document was completely redacted. Massie echoed Khanna’s sentiment, stating, “@RepRoKhanna is correct.”
Massie also demanded that Attorney General Pam Bondi and chief deputy Todd Blanche provide a public statement explaining what has already been released and outlining a timeline for the remainder.
Khanna’s Response
Khanna acknowledged the volume of documents as a reason for the delay but expressed concern over the quality and transparency of the release. Speaking to reporters Friday, he said, “My concern is whether they are releasing the documents in good faith, even if it’s piecemeal, or whether this is just more of the old documents being put out and a cover-up.” He added, “I don’t know whether there is new information or whether it’s stonewalling. But that to me is the biggest issue in terms of the quality of the release, more than just the quantity.” Khanna said he would discuss options with Massie and that the fundamental goal is to reveal who else was involved in the abuse and cover-up.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ released thousands of Epstein documents on Friday but stopped short of full compliance with the 30-day law.
- Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna lead the push for complete disclosure and criticize the DOJ’s handling.
- Congressional support for the law grew after the November discharge petition, leading to its signing by President Trump.
The situation remains tense as lawmakers demand full transparency while the DOJ promises more documents in the near future.
