House Democrat Slams DOJ’s Epstein File Release, Reveals What He’s Seen
The controversy over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s files intensified Friday after Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) blasted the DOJ for withholding what he says is the bulk of critical evidence.
Khanna, speaking after the DOJ released documents to the House Oversight Committee, argued that Americans are being denied the truth.
“Only 3% of the documents given to the Oversight Committee are new. The rest are already in the public domain. Less than 1% of files have been released. DOJ is stonewalling,” Khanna said in a statement posted on his congressional website.
He further pressed Congress to pass his bipartisan measure with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the full release of Epstein-related files with redactions to protect survivors. “The survivors deserve justice and the public deserves transparency. Congress must pass my bill… On September 3rd, I’m holding a press conference with survivors of Epstein and Maxwell’s abuse,” he continued, noting that some victims will be speaking publicly for the first time.
Judges Reject DOJ “Diversion”
The DOJ’s selective release of records has drawn criticism not just from lawmakers, but from the courts themselves.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman — a Clinton appointee — rebuked the DOJ, rejecting its bid to unseal grand jury transcripts from Epstein’s 2019 indictment. He called the government’s maneuver a “diversion” from its refusal to disclose far more significant files.
In his 14-page ruling, Berman wrote, “the information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales in comparison to the Epstein investigative information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice.” He stressed that the DOJ itself is the “logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein file.”
The judge also revealed that no victims had testified before the grand jury. Instead, the only witness was an FBI agent with no firsthand knowledge, offering largely hearsay testimony, supported by a slideshow and call log — both of which remain sealed.
Pattern of Secrecy
This ruling is only the latest setback for the DOJ, which in July sparked public outrage by announcing it would not release further Epstein records. The agency also claimed that a much-discussed “client list” simply does not exist — a claim that fueled even more skepticism.
The backlash prompted President Donald Trump to instruct Attorney General Pam Bondi to push for the release of Epstein-related materials, but federal judges have consistently rejected the DOJ’s motions.
Judge Paul Engelmayer earlier this month dismissed a similar request in the Ghislaine Maxwell case, describing the DOJ’s effort as a performance of “illusion” rather than true transparency. Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidante, was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Likewise, Judge Robin Rosenberg in Florida blocked attempts to unseal grand jury records tied to Epstein’s infamous 2008 sweetheart plea deal, which enabled him to serve just 13 months in jail, much of it on a work-release arrangement.
Judge Berman underscored the DOJ’s ongoing lack of transparency, writing that the full collection of unreleased evidence “would better inform the public about the Epstein case.” By contrast, the grand jury transcripts, he noted, amounted to nothing more than a “hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct.”