(The Guardian) A bipartisan group of lawmakers has asked a US District Court to appoint a special master to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. A special master is a neutral, third-party official appointed by a judge to make sure judicial orders are followed.
Congressmembers Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, sent a letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York requesting the appointment.
“The Department of Justice is openly defying the law by refusing to release the full Epstein files. Millions of files are being kept from the public,” Khanna said in a press release announcing the letter. “The DOJ has failed to make the necessary redactions to protect survivors while removing records after publication without any explanation. That is why we are requesting the appointment of a Special Master to oversee the release of the files and ensure that the DOJ is following the law.”
“Attorney General Pam Bondi is egregiously violating the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” said Massie. “Under her leadership, the Department of Justice is missing statutory disclosure deadlines, making excessive redactions, and illegally withholding the Department’s internal communications. Because the Department of Justice has shown it cannot be trusted with making the disclosures required by law, a Special Master should be appointed to oversee the release of the Epstein files.”
Khanna and Massie wrote the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to release the files by 19 December.
Congressmembers Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, sent a letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York requesting the appointment.
“The Department of Justice is openly defying the law by refusing to release the full Epstein files. Millions of files are being kept from the public,” Khanna said in a press release announcing the letter. “The DOJ has failed to make the necessary redactions to protect survivors while removing records after publication without any explanation. That is why we are requesting the appointment of a Special Master to oversee the release of the files and ensure that the DOJ is following the law.”
“Attorney General Pam Bondi is egregiously violating the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” said Massie. “Under her leadership, the Department of Justice is missing statutory disclosure deadlines, making excessive redactions, and illegally withholding the Department’s internal communications. Because the Department of Justice has shown it cannot be trusted with making the disclosures required by law, a Special Master should be appointed to oversee the release of the Epstein files.”
Khanna and Massie wrote the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to release the files by 19 December.
