Bipartisan Criticism of Epstein Documents Release
During a recent television appearance, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California and Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky jointly criticized the Department of Justice's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
In an interview that aired this weekend, both lawmakers expressed frustration with Attorney General Pam Bondi and her department's approach to releasing the files. Khanna described the extensive redactions throughout the documents as "a slap in the face of survivors" and suggested the process appeared "corrupt."
"The problem here is there are rich and powerful people who either engaged in this abuse, covered it up, or we're on this island," Khanna told CBS News' Margaret Brennan. "What the American people want to know is who are these people? Instead of holding them accountable, Pam Bondi is breaking the law."
Transparency Act Implementation
Khanna and Massie were instrumental in passing last month's bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to disclose investigation records within 30 days.
While the DOJ has released over 13,000 files, the presence of completely blacked-out pages and the removal of multiple documents from Friday's release has generated significant public and congressional concern.
"They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law," Massie told Brennan. "It's very troubling the posture that they've taken. And I won't be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied."
Calls for Accountability
Massie, who has frequently challenged the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case, suggested that holding Bondi in contempt would be the "quickest" and "most expeditious way to get justice for these victims."
In response to the criticism, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the redactions in a Saturday social media statement, claiming they were necessary to protect Epstein's victims. The Justice Department indicated it would proceed with "an abundance of caution" while continuing to review and release additional material.
