Transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case remains a battle worth fighting. Lawmakers are drawing a hard line against delays that shield critical truths from the public.
Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced Monday their readiness to wield Congress’s inherent contempt powers against Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing the Justice Department of stalling on the full release of Epstein-related records, Newsmax reported.
The bipartisan duo, lead sponsors of the Act signed by President Donald Trump on Nov. 19, demand unclassified documents be made public with only narrow exceptions for victim privacy or active investigations. Their frustration stems from an initial release they call incomplete and heavily redacted, far short of the law’s intent.
Khanna has proposed a penalty structure to compel compliance, starting with a 30-day grace period, which Bondi has already breached. He suggests fines up to $5,000 per day until the remaining files surface, a nudge to prioritize public accountability over bureaucratic foot-dragging.
Massie echoes the call, arguing the Justice Department is sidestepping the statute’s clear purpose. It’s not about personal vendettas, but about honoring a commitment to those scarred by Epstein’s actions.
Khanna put it plainly, saying, “Lives were traumatized. They want these documents out and whatever we can do to get them out.”
The Justice Department, through Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, claims to be following the law, justifying redactions with victim protections and court orders. Yet, restoring a single item to the public database after criticism hardly screams diligence or good faith.
Lawmakers see this as a dodge, a way to obscure rather than illuminate. If victims’ rights are the concern, then handle it with precision, not blanket censorship that buries the bigger picture.
The public isn’t asking for gossip; they’re demanding clarity on a case that’s festered in shadows for too long. Half-measures and selective releases only fuel distrust in institutions already on thin ice.
Inherent contempt, a rarely tapped congressional authority, looms as a potential hammer in this dispute. It allows Congress to arrest or fine those defying its will, a relic of raw power that Khanna says has bipartisan backing if Bondi persists in stonewalling.
Massie confirmed discussions are active on leveraging this tool. The message is clear: comply with the law, or face consequences that cut through the usual red tape of referrals and lawsuits.
This isn’t about theatrics; it’s a push to restore faith that government can act decisively when justice demands it. Playing hide-and-seek with Epstein’s records undermines that trust at every turn.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act was a promise to peel back layers of secrecy, not a suggestion to be ignored. Lawmakers like Khanna and Massie are right to hold the line, even if it means dusting off old congressional muscle to get results.
Bondi and the Justice Department have a choice: release the full, unvarnished truth as the law requires, or risk a showdown that could redefine accountability. The clock is ticking, and excuses won’t cut it when the stakes are this high.
For a nation weary of cover-ups and progressive agendas that prioritize optics over substance, this fight matters. Let’s hope the department opts for candor over conflict, because the public deserves nothing less.