Democratic lawmakers have pledged to combat what they describe as a "full-blown cover-up" following the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. This comes after the Trump administration declared its investigation into the late financier and sex offender effectively closed.
Justice Department Declares Investigation Over
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on ABC's This Week that the release of over 3 million new pages by the Justice Department on Friday marked the final compliance with legislation requiring full disclosure of all investigative documents. He emphasised that the review had examined more than six million pieces of paper, along with thousands of videos and images, fulfilling statutory obligations.
Democrats and Republican Demand More Transparency
However, Blanche's announcement sparked outrage from senior Democrats and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky. They are insisting that millions of additional pages are being deliberately withheld, calling for their immediate release.
Democratic Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, expressed his frustration on CNN's State of the Union. He highlighted that only half of the potentially responsive documents have been released, with significant redactions, questioning the transparency of the process.
Raskin wrote to Blanche demanding access to unredacted materials, arguing that the current release provides only a selective view of the information.Victims' Concerns and Legal Actions
Lawyers representing more than 200 of Epstein's victims have filed court papers in New York, demanding the removal of a Justice Department website that publicly identifies them. This follows reports of redaction errors, which they describe as a severe violation of victim privacy.
California Democrat Ro Khanna, who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Massie, criticised the Justice Department for releasing at best half the documents. He stressed the need for elite accountability and addressed the ongoing distress among survivors.
Political Backlash and Defiance
Massie faces significant pushback from within his party, including efforts to remove him from the ballot and criticism from former President Donald Trump, who has labelled the Epstein affair a "Democrat hoax." Despite this, Massie remains defiant, asserting that he cannot be bullied and will continue to advocate for transparency.
In a social media post, Massie reiterated his commitment, stating that success would be measured by seeing wealthy individuals held accountable, rather than the current state of affairs which he views as a cover-up.
Broader Implications and Calls for Accountability
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasised that the issue is not over until full transparency is achieved, as demanded by survivors, to ensure complete accountability. The names of prominent figures, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew, have appeared in the released documents, though all deny any wrongdoing related to Epstein's crimes.
The ongoing controversy underscores deep political divisions and raises questions about the handling of high-profile investigations, with Democrats vowing to persist in their fight for the release of all relevant files.
