Justice Department faces deadline day on Epstein files law

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release investigative materials on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an inflection point in a controversy with deep intrigue and potential political ramifications for President Donald Trump.

Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation last month that orders the Justice Department to publish in a searchable format all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment.

The law exempts some information, such as the personal information of victims or information related to ongoing investigations.

There remained uncertainty heading into deadline day on whether — or how, or to what extent — the Justice Department plans on complying with the release of the documents. The DOJ did not respond to questions Thursday about a potential release.

The skeptical posture from some lawmakers comes after Trump and House Republican leaders fought rank-and-file members for months over whether materials in the federal government’s holdings should be released publicly.

Trump signed the bill in a surprising about-face on the issue but also referred to the topic as a “hoax” that would “backfire on the Democrats just as all of the rest have.”

The law also requires Attorney General Pamela Bondi, within 15 days of making such records public, to submit a report to Congress that includes information on the materials it has released and withheld, a list of any redactions made and the legal justification for doing so, and a list of any government officials and politically exposed persons named in the investigation.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who along with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., led a procedural gambit that pressured leadership to bring the disclosure bill to the House floor, said Thursday the victims’ lawyers collectively know there are at least 20 names of men who are accused of sex crimes in the possession of the FBI.

“If we get a large production on Dec. 19th and it does not contain a single name of any male who’s accused of a sex crime or a sex trafficking or rape or any of these things, then we know they haven’t produced all the documents. It’s that simple,” Massie said in a video posted on social media.

The handling of the Epstein documents has been a consistent source of controversy for the Trump administration. This summer, the Justice Department and the FBI said in a memo that a review of the investigative material on Epstein revealed no “incriminating ‘client list.’” It also said that no other documents would be released.

The existence of the investigative files on the late financier, who died in custody in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking, has driven a wave of speculation over whether high-profile figures were tied to the sexual exploitation of girls.

Trump’s past ties to Epstein have also come under further scrutiny this year, with House Democrats releasing photos and documents they have received from the Epstein estate. Among those documents was an email from Epstein that suggests Trump “knew about the girls.”

Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a news release that the release day “should be a big step towards transparency” about Epstein’s crimes.

“It took an act of Congress to get to this point,” Durbin said. “I will be looking closely for: appropriate redactions of victim’s identifying information, faulty redactions shielding those who caused harm from accountability, and any sense that the Administration is covering up for the wealthy and powerful.”

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Democrats expect Trump and Bondi to delay, dodge or release only part of the files. The New York Democrat also said they are coordinating with legal experts, along with attorneys for the victims, to make sure the administration fully complies with the law.

Schumer also pledged there would be legal “consequences” if the administration did not fully comply.

“This law passed with near unanimous support. The survivors deserve the truth, and the American people are demanding it,” Schumer said at a press conference earlier this week. “This isn’t political. Democrats and Republicans agree. The American people deserve the truth.”

Days before Trump signed the law, he called for a DOJ probe into other Epstein ties. Bondi soon after announced that she had asked Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to take the lead on investigating any ties Epstein may have had to former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and a separate prominent investor.

A group of lawmakers earlier this month pointed to that announcement of new investigations to seek an update on the release of the Epstein files.

One of them, Khanna, posted about the Friday deadline. “I have long said the contents of the Epstein Files will shock the conscience of our nation,” he posted Thursday.

After the bill’s passage, district judges on the request of the DOJ have given the green light to release grand jury materials related to the cases against Epstein and Maxwell.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, brushed off skepticism that the administration would fully comply with the law and said the department, including Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, will release information they are “required and permitted” to release.

“I think Pam and Todd are doing a good job,” Jordan said Thursday.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., said some of the materials will be redacted to protect the innocent, but he trusts the administration to release the documents.

“My hope and my belief is they’re going to release them,” Van Drew said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said he’s hoping, too.

“We’re all hoping for it, but we’ve not seen any detectable signs of movement,” the Maryland Democrat said.