Ro Khanna Says Justice Department Failed to Meet Epstein Files Law

US Congressman Ro Khanna says the Justice Department failed to follow the law on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files. He spoke on Friday after the agency shared a large batch of records. The release came from Washington under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law requires full disclosure and clear reasons for any redactions.

Khanna said the files were not complete. He said many pages were fully blacked out. He also said key documents were missing and must be released under the law.

Redacted Pages Raise New Questions

Khanna pointed to what he called extreme redactions. According to AP and Reuters, one grand jury file ran 119 pages. Every page was blacked out. Khanna said this broke the law because no reason was given for the redactions.

The Justice Department said it needed more time to protect names of victims and other private parties. It said more documents would be released soon. But Khanna said this was not enough. He argued the law set a firm deadline and required clear notes for each redaction.

Thomas Massie, the co-author of the law, agreed. He said the release did not match the spirit or letter of the act. He said the department must comply with what President Donald Trump signed 30 days earlier.

Missing Files and Possible Action by Congress

Khanna said other important files were still missing. He said a draft indictment tied to other wealthy figures was not included. He said the public needs to see all unclassified material. He added that survivors and their lawyers have waited years for this release.

He said he and Massie were now weighing options. That includes holding officials in contempt of Congress. It also includes possible impeachment steps or referrals for prosecution. Khanna said the Justice Department must follow the law or face action.

AP reported that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said “several hundred thousand” documents would be released. He said the deadline would be missed because of the review process. The department said more batches would come in the next weeks.

Khanna said he was disappointed by the delay and the scale of redactions. He said the department had claimed in the past that few records remained. Friday’s release, he said, proved that was not true.

This issue will likely continue to build pressure on the Justice Department. The push for the full release of the Epstein files remains strong. Many officials say the public must see the records to restore trust.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: What did Ro Khanna say about the Epstein files release?

He said the Justice Department did not follow the law. He said many pages were fully blacked out. He also said key documents were missing.

Q2: Why are the redactions a major concern?

The law requires clear reasons for each redaction. Khanna said no reasons were given for large blocked-out files. He said this broke the rules set by Congress.

Q3: What documents were missing?

Khanna said a draft indictment was not included. He said this file could involve other powerful people. He said it must be released under the law.

Q4: What could Congress do next?

Khanna and Massie may take action against Justice Department officials. Options include contempt, impeachment steps, or referrals for prosecution. They say the agency must follow the law.

Q5: What has the Justice Department said?

It said it needed more time to protect victims and private names. It said more files will come soon. It said the review process is large and slow.

Trusted Sources: AP News, Reuters