The US Department of Justice (DoJ) recently declared that all files required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act have been released. However, lawmakers, including Representative Thomas Massie, argue that the release is inadequate and are calling for further transparency.
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A letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Todd Blanche to Congress asserted that all documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in the DoJ's possession have been disclosed. The letter emphasized that nothing was withheld due to "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity."
Included in the release are names of prominent figures like Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Bill Clinton, who had past associations with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The DoJ clarified that being named does not imply wrongdoing, as these individuals have denied involvement in Epstein's crimes.
The document list also contained unexpected entries, such as deceased musicians Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley. This has raised questions, as their inclusion seems unrelated to Epstein's activities.
Massie and co-author Ro Khanna insist that internal memos, notes, and decision-making emails regarding prosecutions should also be released, criticizing the DoJ for using "deliberative process privilege" to withhold documents.
Khanna expressed frustration, particularly over the inclusion of individuals unrelated to Epstein's criminal activities, urging for the full release of files while protecting survivors' identities. He highlighted the absurdity of grouping unrelated figures together without clarification.
Further complications arose as lawyers for Epstein's victims reported that some released files contained sensitive information, including email addresses and identifiable images of potential victims. These errors were attributed to "technical or human error," with the DoJ promising to address the issues.
The debate over transparency in the Epstein case continues, with calls for more comprehensive disclosure and accountability. Lawmakers are pressing for clarity to ensure that justice is served without protecting those potentially involved.
Key Takeaways
Lawmakers demand full disclosure of Epstein-related documents.
Prominent figures named, though inclusion doesn't imply wrongdoing.
Calls for protection of victims’ identities while ensuring transparency.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 15 Feb 2026