US Lawmakers Accuse Justice Department of Breaking Law Over Epstein File Release
The Department of Justice is violating federal law after they confirmed it will not release the complete set of files connected to Jeffrey Epstein by the legally mandated deadline.
Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, acknowledged on Friday that while the department plans to release a massive trove of Epstein-related documents, the disclosure will fall short of what Congress required. His remarks immediately sparked backlash from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers warned of possible legal action over what they described as a clear breach of federal law.
In an interview on Fox News Friday morning, Blanche said the Department of Justice expected to make public “several hundred thousand documents” related to Epstein later that day. According to Blanche, the materials would include a wide range of records, such as photographs and other investigative documents tied to multiple probes involving Epstein.
Despite the scale of the release, Blanche made clear that it would not include the full collection of Epstein files in the department’s possession.
“I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks,” Blanche said. “Today, several hundred thousand, and then over the next couple of weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more. There’s a lot of eyes looking at these, and we want to make sure that when we do produce the materials, we are protecting every single victim.”
Lawmakers argue that the plan to stagger the release directly contradicts the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by Donald Trump on 19 November. The statute explicitly requires the Justice Department to make all qualifying Epstein-related records public within 30 days of enactment.
Representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin, the top Democrats on the House oversight committee, issued a joint statement Friday afternoon condemning the department’s approach.
“We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law,” Garcia and Raskin said. “The survivors of this nightmare deserve justice, the co-conspirators must be held accountable, and the American people deserve complete transparency from the Department of Justice.”
Under the law, the department is required to release all records related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein, with limited exceptions. Those exceptions apply only to materials containing sensitive personal information about victims or records that could interfere with an ongoing investigation or pose national security risks.
Blanche’s comments also prompted reaction from lawmakers who have championed the bipartisan push for transparency. Representative Thomas Massie, the Republican who has led the effort alongside Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, posted an image of the law’s text on X shortly after Blanche’s interview aired.
Massie emphasized the statute’s language requiring disclosure “not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this act,” highlighting the word “all” in the section mandating the release of unclassified Justice Department records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in a searchable and downloadable format.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer weighed in as well, issuing a statement sharply criticizing the Justice Department and the Trump administration.
“The law Congress passed and Trump signed was clear as can be: the Trump administration had 30 days to release ALL the Epstein files, not just some,” Schumer said. “Failing to do so is breaking the law. This just shows the Department of Justice, Donald Trump, and Pam Bondi are hellbent on hiding the truth.”
Schumer added that Senate Democrats are actively working with attorneys representing Epstein’s victims and with independent legal experts to determine what documents are being withheld.
“We will not stop until the whole truth comes out,” he said.
Legal advocates for Epstein survivors also responded to the announcement with mixed reactions. Jennifer Freeman, special counsel at Marsh Law Firm, represents Epstein survivor Maria Farmer in her lawsuit against the federal government.
In a statement, Freeman said she appreciated the department’s stated concern for protecting victims but expressed deep disappointment over the incomplete release.
“I am pleased to hear that the Department of Justice is being careful to protect survivors,” Freeman said. “Yet I am very disappointed that the department will today release only about half of their materials, particularly because this release has been amply anticipated for a very long time.”
Freeman added that her client has been waiting decades for access to her records.
“Regardless, I look forward to finally seeing what I hope are the complete files of the survivors, including my client, Maria Farmer, who has been waiting for her records for nearly 30 years, since 1996 when she first reported Epstein and Maxwell’s child sex abuse, sex trafficking, and child pornography crimes to the FBI,” she said. “Had the FBI done its job, nearly 1,000 victims could have been spared, and 30 years of trauma avoided.”
Legal scholars also echoed lawmakers’ concerns. Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University, wrote on social media that the Justice Department’s decision amounted to a clear violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“This is a violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” Goodman wrote.