Congress Furious Over Partial Epstein Documents Release

Bipartisan Outrage as Justice Department Releases Only Fraction of Epstein Files

Lawmakers from both parties are expressing fury over the Department of Justice's partial release of Jeffrey Epstein case documents, accusing the agency of violating a recently signed transparency law. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Donald Trump on November 19, 2025, required the Attorney General to release all unclassified documents related to the Epstein investigation within 30 days. Instead, the Justice Department has released only thousands of documents—a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands collected over years of investigations.

Lawmakers Accuse DOJ of Protecting Powerful Figures

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the legislation with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, stated bluntly: 'The Justice Department is violating the law we passed. They're protecting wealthy donors and powerful friends.' The bipartisan pair are considering congressional action that could impose fines on Attorney General Pam Bondi for each day the full documents aren't released.

Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer echoed the criticism, telling reporters: 'The law is crystal clear: the Trump administration had thirty days to release ALL Epstein documents, not just some. This proves once again that the Justice Department, Donald Trump, and Pam Bondi are doing everything they can to cover up the truth.'

Massive Redactions and Missing Files

The released documents contain extensive redactions, with hundreds of pages completely blacked out and names of more than 1,200 individuals—including victims and their family members—removed. According to CBS News reports, at least 15 files have disappeared from the Justice Department's special website after initial publication, including a photograph showing President Trump with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explained to NBC News that the photo was removed due to concerns about women in the image: 'After releasing that photo, we became aware of concerns about those women in the photo and therefore we took the photo offline.' He emphasized that no information about Trump was being withheld unless required by law, particularly regarding victim information.

Victims' Advocates Join Criticism

Gloria Allred, attorney for several Epstein abuse survivors, told CNN: 'The system has failed the survivors. Some files aren't censored enough—I've seen names and photos of victims that should have been redacted, including nude photos. That's truly unacceptable.' Allred revealed that the Justice Department had previously asked which of her clients wanted their names redacted.

The documents that have been released include disturbing revelations from grand jury testimony. One woman testified she brought 7-10 high school girls, ages 14-18, to Epstein's home for massages that involved sexual touching, earning $200 per girl. FBI testimony detailed how victims were instructed to lie about their ages.

Historical Context of the Epstein Case

Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, cultivated relationships with numerous powerful figures including politicians, royalty, and business leaders. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting girls for Epstein's abuse. The newly released documents confirm the FBI received tips about Epstein's crimes as early as 1996, raising questions about why investigations took so long to progress.

As the Justice Department continues what it calls a 'massive undertaking' to review documents, Blanche estimated the full release could take several weeks. Meanwhile, Congress appears poised to escalate its pressure on the administration to comply fully with the transparency law that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.