In a significant development on Capitol Hill, House Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) have expressed their intention to take decisive action against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The move comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released heavily redacted files related to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, in what the lawmakers argue is a violation of both the letter and intent of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bipartisan act, passed with near-unanimous support and signed by President Trump, mandates the DOJ to make all case files concerning Epstein publicly accessible.
Despite the release of hundreds of thousands of pages last Friday, key documents were either heavily redacted or entirely omitted. These include records that potentially implicate several prominent individuals in Epstein's notorious activities. On CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Rep. Massie voiced his concerns, stating, “They’re flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It’s very troubling the posture that they’ve taken.” Rep. Khanna echoed the sentiment, highlighting that survivors view the limited release as “a slap in the face,” and criticized the absence of files that detail “the rich and powerful men who visited Epstein’s rape island and covered up the abuse.”
In response to what they see as obstruction, the lawmakers are drafting a resolution to hold Bondi in inherent contempt. This rarely invoked congressional authority could result in fines or imprisonment for officials who fail to comply with laws or subpoenas. Massie described this route as “the most expeditious way to get justice for these victims,” emphasizing that it would circumvent protracted court battles. Khanna noted the growing bipartisan support for the effort and mentioned that it could authorize a congressional committee to review the legality of the DOJ’s redactions.
The proposed measure could see Bondi facing daily fines should the DOJ continue to withhold the complete set of documents. Massie has made it clear that he will not consider the matter resolved until survivors confirm that all relevant files have been disclosed. Attorneys representing victims have identified at least 20 men reported to the FBI for involvement in Epstein's sex crimes, with only a fraction of their identities released.
Lawmakers also criticized the DOJ for citing previous statutes, such as the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act standards, to justify the redactions. Massie and Khanna, along with legal scholars, have deemed many of the redactions excessive, particularly those concerning internal communications and workforce material. Notably absent is a 60-count indictment initially drafted against Epstein, from which only two counts were prosecuted.
Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche, overseeing the document release, stated that the DOJ intends to make "several hundred thousand more" documents available in the coming weeks. He clarified that the omission of certain files, including a photo of President Trump, was due to concerns from Epstein and Maxwell victims, rather than political motives.
By challenging the DOJ's actions, Massie and Khanna are taking a stand against what they describe as a "corrupt system" protecting elites. Their pursuit of inherent contempt aims to ensure transparency and send a clear message that congressional laws must be respected. The lawmakers' efforts are driven by a commitment to compel accountability and to give victims the confidence that the full extent of Epstein's crimes, as well as those complicit, will be thoroughly exposed.
