In a move that has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he will introduce a resolution urging the Senate to “initiate legal action against the DOJ for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files.”
Schumer’s Resolution
Schumer posted on X that “The law Congress passed is crystal clear: release the Epstein files in full so Americans can see the truth,” and added, “Instead, the Trump Department of Justice dumped redactions and withheld the evidence – that breaks the law.” The resolution will be tabled for consideration when the Senate reconvenes on Monday, Jan. 5, after the chamber’s recess.
House Bill and Rep. Massie’s Call
The resolution follows a House-passed bill that compels the DOJ to make its Epstein records public. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who co-authored the bill, said over the weekend they plan to take further action in the House. Massie told CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday that “the quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi.” On Friday, the DOJ released only a portion of its investigative files on Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
Victims’ Statement and Legal Deadline
A group of Epstein victims issued a statement Monday urging lawmakers to intervene. “The public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation. At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm,” the statement read. The victims said the DOJ “violated the law” and urged “immediate congressional oversight, including hearings, formal demands for compliance, and legal action, to ensure the Department of Justice fulfills its legal obligations.” The law, signed by President Trump on Nov. 19, requires the attorney general to “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice” involving Epstein, “including all investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters,” within 30 days.
DOJ Response and Redaction Process
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged in an interview with Fox News that the DOJ had not met the Dec. 19 deadline. He said the delay was because the department was still working to redact information to protect victims’ identities, as required under the new law. In a fact sheet released Sunday, the DOJ said it “has more than 200 lawyers working around the clock reviewing each individual file for release. This is an arduous process, as each document and photograph must be individually reviewed by DOJ and the Southern District of New York for potential redactions to protect victims or potential victims.” The agency added, “The Department is required by law to redact identifying information about the victims, minors, or potential victims, as well as privileged material. NO redactions have been or will be made to protect famous individuals or politically exposed persons.”
The DOJ also explained a recent photo removal. “The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims. Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review,” the agency posted on X. After review, it determined there was no evidence that any Epstein victims were depicted and the photo was reposted without alteration or redaction. Blanche said he expects the entirety of the files to be public in two weeks.
Trump’s Comments and DOJ Defense
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would support releasing the files, accusing Democrats of orchestrating a “hoax” to distract the public from Republican wins. The DOJ defended its rollout of the files, noting that Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The agency defended its decision to remove a dozen photographs, one of which included pictures of Trump, saying the removal was not a cover-up but a response to concerns from victims’ rights groups. Blanche denied that the decision was tied to Trump in an interview Sunday with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” stating, “That decision has nothing to do with President Trump and was made because ‘victims’ rights groups’ were concerned about other images that were captured in the photo.”
Key Takeaways
- Schumer’s resolution seeks legal action against the DOJ for withholding Epstein files.
- The House bill and Rep. Massie’s comments emphasize the urgency of full disclosure.
- Victims argue the DOJ’s redactions violate the law and demand congressional oversight.
The debate over the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files continues as the DOJ works to meet the legal deadline, with lawmakers pressing for transparency and victims demanding accountability.
