DOJ's Partial Release and Congressional Scrutiny of Epstein Files Transparency Act Compliance
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) was expected to release a large archive of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on the evening of December 19, 2025. This release was part of an obligation of the Trump administration to disclose files revealing Epstein's misdeeds and possible connections to public figures, including Donald Trump. The Guardian video titled "The Latest" featured Jonathan Freedland and Lucy Hough discussing the significance of this event within the context of US politics and ongoing investigations surrounding Epstein.
However, by the deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Friday, December 19, 2025, the DOJ had failed to release all Epstein-related documents. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were named in the noncompliance, resulting in Congress considering actions against them. Possible enforcement measures include contempt of Congress or suing in federal court to compel the production of documents. Contempt could lead to referral to DOJ for criminal prosecution or detention by the sergeant-at-arms, although practical enforcement is deemed unlikely. Discussions of impeachment for Bondi or Blanche were noted but considered difficult and requiring significant political will.
Authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, stated that lawmakers are exploring various options, including prosecutions and impeachment, for the DOJ's noncompliance, though enforcement provisions remain unclear. The DOJ defended its partial release by citing the need to protect victims; Deputy Blanche expressed concerns that a broader release could risk identifying victims. At least 16 files remain missing from the DOJ's public site.
This ongoing controversy follows Epstein's death in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial and the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. The case has generated bipartisan uproar and continued scrutiny over the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files.
