The Department of Justice (DoJ) is getting ripped on. They recently posted a notice indicating that they will be releasing only a few select documents directly related to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein. This decision is a result of the recently passed Epstein Files Transparency Act. It mandates the release of all associated documents within 30 days. On November 19, former President Donald Trump signed the Marquee Act into law. This legislation will help shed light on Epstein’s case, an issue that has received national attention and alarm for years.
To its credit, Congress has taken action by passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This law is making the Department of Justice public all documents related to its investigations into Epstein. The law allows only for very narrow exceptions. This allows the department to exempt records that include sensitive personal information about victims or records that would otherwise risk ongoing investigations or national security. Todd Blanche, the Acting Deputy Attorney General, followed up with this exciting news just now. Now, that half is still a problem — here’s why.
Blanche stated, “I expect we’re going to release several hundred thousand documents today, and those documents will come in all different forms, photographs and other materials associated with all of the investigations into Mr. Epstein.” Given this astounding number of documents, however, many naysayers have taken issue with a release that is thus incomplete as falling short of what the law provides.
The release of documents should occur “not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this act,” raising concerns about the legality of the DoJ’s actions. Ryan Goodman, a legal scholar and law professor at New York University, remarked on this discrepancy, asserting, “This is a violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
Among others, Congressional Democratic leaders from the House and Senate have registered their disappointment with the DoJ’s decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made it clear that transparency was key. He wrote that the law unmistakably calls for the release of every file, not merely a cherry-picked group. He continued, “The law Congress passed and President Trump signed was simply clear. The Trump administration had 30 days to release all the Epstein files and not just a subset. Not only is failing to do so bad policy, it’s illegal.”
New Democrats Representatives Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin are two important Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. They are promising to continue monitoring the situation. They expressed their intent to explore “all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.” As they state, in their opinion, transparency is key to making sure justice is served to Epstein’s survivors and that co-conspirators are brought to justice.
The expectation of such a moment—the public release of Epstein’s files—has been high for the past several years. While his case is high-profile, it has grave implications for thousands of people. In turn, the public is calling for more detailed data. Many believe that full transparency is essential for understanding the extent of Epstein’s activities and ensuring accountability for those involved.
In reaction to this request, the DoJ is expected to release some 400,000+ documents. Worry remains over if and how these plans/documents will comply with the legal standards set by the US Congress. This ongoing debate only underscores the often contentious relationship that must exist between governmental agencies and the legislative branch’s demand for accountability and transparency.