DOJ fails to fully comply with Friday deadline for Epstein files release
The U.S. Department of Justice will not release the entirety of the federal government’s files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein by the end of day Friday, failing to fully comply with a mandate from Congress.
DOJ will release several hundred thousand documents, however, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a Fox News interview. He estimated that “several hundred thousand more” will be released “over the next couple of weeks.”
The delay, Blanche explained, is due to the significant number of redactions that the department must complete in order to protect the identifications of witnesses and victims in the files.
By failing to fully comply with a congressional edict, lawmakers would have grounds to impeach or hold U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Nov. 18, which President Donald Trump signed into law the next day.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., requires that the U.S. Attorney General “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice” that relate to Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Any Justice Department official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna vowed.
Epstein died in jail awaiting trial in 2019 and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
President Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton, billionaire businessman Bill Gates, and dozens of other high-profile figures have received intense public scrutiny for their connections with Epstein and Maxwell.
Latest News Stories
DOJ files complaint to block Minnesota climate lawsuit
Hegseth: Ceasefire holds despite Iranian aggression
Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding
Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high
Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Monee Village Board for April 22, 2026
After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect
Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research
Trump tells small business owners tariffs ‘aren’t high enough’
Pennsylvania has the most Democrats in ‘Red to Blue’ campaign
Trump hosts small business owners at White House, touting business-friendly policies
DeSantis signs new congressional map into law