A critical deadline for the full disclosure of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case has been missed by the US Department of Justice, with lawmakers showing dwindling appetite to force compliance. January 19 marked one full month since the congressionally mandated deadline of December 19 passed, yet the vast majority of the anticipated files remain under wraps.
Mounting Frustration Amidst Political Shifts
Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, spearheaded by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, the Justice Department was required to release all documents. To date, however, Attorney General Pam Bondi's department has published just over 12,000 pages from a cache exceeding 2 million. The late financier and convicted sex offender died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019.
Initial bipartisan pressure appears to be fading as the political spotlight moves to other issues, including immigration unrest in Minneapolis and foreign policy ventures. Some Republicans who originally forced a House vote on the legislation in November are now publicly downplaying its importance. "I don't give a rip about Epstein," Colorado GOP Representative Lauren Boebert told Politico, adding the matter was "no longer in my hands."
Administration Pushback and Technical Delays
The Trump administration actively tried to dissuade Republicans from forcing the original vote, with Boebert reportedly summoned to the Situation Room over the issue. The rebellion culminated in a public fallout between former President Donald Trump and ex-congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, whom he branded a "traitor."
In a recent federal court filing, Representatives Massie and Khanna requested a special master to oversee the document release, arguing the Justice Department "cannot be trusted" with the mandatory disclosures. The department swiftly rebutted, claiming the lawmakers lack standing.
In a January 15 letter to federal judges, Attorney General Bondi defended the pace, stating more than 500 staff are reviewing millions of pages to protect victim confidentiality. She cited "inevitable glitches" in processing and deduplicating decades of documents on a central platform requiring around-the-clock technical support.
Controversy Over Specific Content and Next Steps
The limited release has not been without controversy. Observers noted a photograph from Epstein's office, showing pictures of Donald Trump inside a drawer, was temporarily removed from the public portal. The Justice Department stated this was due to unrelated safety concerns, dismissing allegations it was hiding evidence of Trump's past association with Epstein. The former president has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
Meanwhile, Representative Massie has sharply questioned why the current administration is "working harder to hide the Epstein files than prior administrations did to cover up Iran-Contra and Watergate?" With the department insisting it is making "substantial progress," the wait for full transparency continues, leaving victims and observers in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
