Khanna, Massie Press DOJ On Missed Epstein Files Court Deadline
On Thursday, July 9, 2026, Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pressing the Justice Department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.[1]
The lawmakers said the department reviewed roughly 6 million pages but released about 3.5 million, many of them heavily redacted and lacking itemized explanations.[1] They cited U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan's June order to produce unredacted versions of more than a dozen documents or to provide document-by-document rationales by July 2.[1] The department did not meet that court deadline, the lawmakers wrote.[1]
The Epstein Files Transparency Act became law on November 19, 2025 and required the Attorney General to make unclassified DOJ records about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell public in searchable form within 30 days and to supply a log explaining any redactions. The department released material in batches and by January 30, 2026 had published roughly 3.5 million pages after reviewing about 6 million, a process critics say left many documents redacted without adequate justification.
Journalist Katie Phang sued the Justice Department in April 2026 alleging violations of the Act, and Judge Sullivan ruled in June that Acting Attorney General Blanche had conceded noncompliance and ordered the department to act. Khanna and Massie urged Blanche to follow that order, to release all non-exempt records, and to provide a document-specific rationale for every redaction — steps they say are needed to restore public trust and answer survivors' calls for transparency.
The mainstream summary does not mention that the Department of Justice's release of approximately 3.5 million pages occurred more than a month after the statutory deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated compliance by December 19, 2025. This delay raises questions about the DOJ's commitment to transparency and adherence to legal obligations, as highlighted by the fact that survivors are still waiting for full access to the Epstein files 202 days after the Congressional order. The urgency of this situation is further compounded by the upcoming Senate confirmation hearing for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, which adds pressure on the DOJ to act decisively. Additionally, the summary overlooks the bipartisan nature of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was a result of significant advocacy from survivors and lawmakers like Khanna and Massie, emphasizing the public's demand for accountability and transparency regarding powerful figures involved in the Epstein case. This context underscores the broader implications of the DOJ's actions and the erosion of trust in federal institutions, as noted by Pew Research, which found that only 22% of Americans had trust in the federal government as of spring 2024, reflecting a long-standing sentiment of disillusionment with governmental responsiveness and fairness.[2][3]
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📊 Relevant Data
The Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38) was enacted on November 19, 2025, requiring the Attorney General to make publicly available in searchable and downloadable format all unclassified DOJ records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of enactment, and to submit a report to Congress within 15 days detailing categories released or withheld, redaction summaries, and named government officials or politically exposed persons.
H.R.4405 - Epstein Files Transparency Act — Congress.gov
The Department of Justice's January 30, 2026 release of approximately 3.5 million Epstein-related pages occurred more than one month after the Act's 30-day statutory deadline of December 19, 2025.
Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages in Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act — U.S. Department of Justice
📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, July 9, 2026, Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over DOJ’s Epstein files compliance.
- DOJ has reviewed roughly 6 million pages of Epstein-related records but released only about 3.5 million, drawing complaints about extensive redactions and missing explanations.
- Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered DOJ to remove redactions from more than a dozen Epstein documents by July 2, 2026, in journalist Katie Phang’s lawsuit; DOJ declined to produce unredacted versions by that deadline.
- Khanna and Massie urge DOJ to follow Sullivan’s order, release all non-exempt records, and provide document-specific rationales for every redaction as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
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