Justice Department Slow to Release Epstein Files, Lawmakers Respond
New York – A judge has ruled that members of Congress who pushed for a law requiring the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cannot directly intervene in Maxwell’s criminal case to speed up the process.
The ruling comes after Representatives Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Republican, sought to ensure the quick release of over two million documents related to investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. The two congressmen were sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law.
The Justice Department has said it needs to carefully review the documents to protect the identities of abuse victims. Only a small portion of the files has been released so far.
While the judge agreed that the lawmakers’ concerns about the slow release were valid, he stated that they must pursue other legal avenues to ensure the Justice Department complies with the law. He suggested they could use their positions in Congress to oversee the Justice Department.
Representative Khanna said that he respects the judge’s decision and would explore all legal options to ensure the files are released and that justice is served for the survivors. Some critics feel the slow release of information is another example of government bureaucracy hindering the pursuit of justice.
