The delayed and heavily censored release of government documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has ignited a fierce backlash from survivors of his alleged abuse and prompted immediate legal threats from members of Congress.
Survivors Decry 'Sloppy' Release and Exposure
One survivor, Sharlene Rochard, appearing on NBC News, labelled the document dump "unacceptable," expressing fury at entire pages being blacked out. She emphasised that survivors had only requested their own names be withheld, not wholesale censorship.
This sentiment was echoed in a collective statement from nearly two dozen survivors, who criticised the "abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation." They also highlighted the damaging failure to redact victim identities in other instances, which they said caused "real and immediate harm." Another survivor, Jess Michaels, accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of being "sloppy and inconsistent and thoughtless" in its handling of the sensitive files.
Congressional Backlash and Legal Manoeuvres
The release came after a missed legal deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bill sponsored by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-K.Y.) and Ro Khanna (D-C.A.) and signed by President Donald Trump last month. The DOJ had until last Friday to disclose the files but requested a "couple of weeks" extension, releasing only a fraction of the material.
In response, Massie and Khanna are now drafting a resolution to find Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt. Khanna stated the resolution would seek to fine Bondi for each day the documents remain unreleased. Representative Robert Garcia (D-C.A.) confirmed a multi-pronged legal strategy is being developed, stating, "All hands are on deck right now. All the options are on the table."
Adding to the pressure, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against the Trump administration over the files.
Political Fallout and Accusations
The controversy has sparked a political firestorm. Former President Trump, commenting on photos of Bill Clinton in the released files, suggested the disclosures could "ruin" reputations and distract from his agenda. He appeared to blame Representative Massie, calling him a "real low life." Massie fired back on social media, accusing Trump of defending his "banker friends" and Bill Clinton, while alleging Bondi is working to "redact, omit, and delete" legally required files.
Representative Garcia has accused the administration of a "cover-up," a charge the White House has denied. A spokesperson insisted the Trump administration is "the most transparent in history" and has done more for victims than Democrats.
However, this claim was contradicted by NBC News correspondent Ryan Nobles, who noted that even generous estimates put the pages released so far at under 10,000—far short of the administration's claim of 100,000—and that figure includes fully redacted pages.
