Dems Accuse DOJ of Stonewalling on New Epstein Files, Demand Full Release

Members of the House Oversight Committee are voicing concerns over the apparent scarcity of new records in recently received Jeffrey Epstein files from the Justice Department.

In a statement, Representative Ro Khanna of California expressed discontent, stating that only 3% of the documents provided to the committee were previously undisclosed. The remaining documents are already accessible to the public, with less than 1% of files having been made available. Khanna called for the full disclosure of all records.

Similarly, Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvania voiced a similar sentiment, asserting that the DOJ’s provided files primarily consist of content previously released to the public.

Earlier this month, the oversight committee issued a subpoena to the Justice Department, requesting any Epstein-related documents, as well as communications between former Biden administration officials and the DOJ regarding Epstein. The panel has also summoned high-profile witnesses for testimony, including the Clintons.

According to Lee, the only newly disclosed information consists of fewer than 1,000 pages from Customs and Border Protection’s log of flight locations for Epstein’s plane spanning from 2000 to 2014, along with documents pertaining to his reentry into the United States.

Lee noted that the other records provided by the DOJ are ones already available to the public, including video footage from the correctional center on the night of Epstein’s death, a DOJ inspector general report on Epstein’s death, communications between the Bureau of Prisons and DOJ regarding Epstein’s death, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s memo on releasing the Epstein files, court documents from Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial, and Epstein’s criminal case in Florida.

In response to the claims made by Khanna and Lee, a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee stated that the committee is currently reviewing the 34,000 pages of documents received but has no further update at this time. The spokesperson added that this represents the first batch of documents from the DOJ, with additional materials anticipated.

The committee has indicated plans to make the Epstein files public following a comprehensive review aimed at redacting sensitive information such as victims’ identities. The timeline for the release of these records remains uncertain.

The DOJ handed over the records to the committee on the same day it published a transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Maxwell.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, issued a statement accusing the DOJ of releasing the Maxwell transcript in an attempt to divert attention from its continued White House cover-up. The Department of Justice has yet to comment on these allegations.