Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico have gone further. This time, they’ve threatened to place holds on any pending civilian nominations before the Senate. Their decision comes in response to the Trump administration’s failure to provide a briefing on the Justice Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Congress approved this act overwhelmingly in mid-November. It requires the release of all unclassified records concerning the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein no later than December 19.
Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking minors. As the subject of this high-profile case, he’s been the focus of significant attention. Lawmakers are calling for more transparency in the investigation and prosecution being conducted by the Justice Department. The Epstein Files Transparency Act would help make that happen. It requires the release of documents and communications to shed light on the issue.
Merkley and Luján have expressed frustration over Attorney General Pam Bondi’s lack of response to requests for a briefing regarding the department’s efforts to fulfill the act’s requirements. They’ve been pressing DOJ for more information about how it plans to release the Epstein files. This insistence has been echoed by them and other bipartisan lawmakers.
In a joint statement, Merkley and Luján emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “There can be no business as usual until justice is delivered for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes.” They further criticized the administration’s lack of transparency and indicated that it undermines the rule of law: “Without full transparency and accountability, there can be no ‘equal justice under the law.’”
The senators said that they are gravely concerned about the administration’s actions to undermine and violate the terms of the new law. Their actions, to be sure, mirror this concern. They stated, “Until the administration reverses course and provides a commonsense briefing, which lawmakers from both parties requested, we are blocking the Senate from carrying over any outstanding civilian nominations into next year.”
Now, the deadline for the Justice Department to report its findings is quickly approaching. As we publish this post, the political implications of Epstein’s case are developing quickly. Under tactics seen in the Kavanaugh hearings, the senators threaten to hold up nominees. This move underscores legislators’ immediate call for more accountability and transparency, considering Epstein’s infamous trail of legacy.