One month has passed since the Department of Justice (DOJ) was scheduled to release all files related to the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite this deadline, the public has seen minimal progress, with only 1% of the estimated two million files made available. The most recent document release occurred 27 days ago, shortly after the deadline, raising concerns about transparency.
Concerns Over Transparency and Delays
Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted in November 2022, the DOJ is required to publish these documents, albeit with redactions to protect sensitive information. Recent correspondence from the DOJ reveals uncertainty regarding when additional files will be released. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who presided over Maxwell’s trial, Attorney General Pam Bondi argued that federal courts do not have the authority to enforce this act.
Judge Engelmayer had previously opted not to intervene in the release of documents, having denied the release of grand jury materials related to the Maxwell case last summer. However, the landscape changed following the law’s passage, prompting him to order the release of certain materials. The DOJ’s current position suggests that the court cannot compel enforcement of the act. In her letter, Bondi stated, “The Act does not provide a cause of action,” emphasizing that the court may not create one through judicial mandate.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Efforts
In response to the DOJ’s stance, Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, the bipartisan lawmakers who authored the transparency bill, have criticized the administration’s approach. Massie took to social media platform X to question, “Why is this administration working harder to hide the Epstein files than prior administrations did to cover up Iran-Contra and Watergate?”
Despite the criticism, the DOJ has claimed that it is making efforts to prepare the documents for release. In a letter also addressed to Judge Engelmayer, the department indicated that hundreds of staff members are reviewing the files to redact sensitive information. Last week, they announced the addition of 80 attorneys to expedite the redaction process. Despite these efforts, the DOJ has not provided a specific timeline for when any of the files will be available to the public.
As the situation continues to unfold, survivors of Epstein’s abuse have urged the DOJ’s watchdog to oversee the future release of files. The lack of clarity and the ongoing delays in releasing critical information have raised questions about accountability and transparency in the investigation.
