A pair of US lawmakers have threatened legal action against US Attorney General Pam Bondi, after her deadline to release all government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was met only in part.
The release of the Department of Justice (DoJ) documents was highly anticipated but ultimately included only a portion of the available material.
A leading campaigner on the issue, Republican congressman Thomas Massie, stated he may initiate contempt proceedings against Bondi due to this limited release.
The Department of Justice asserts it is adhering to legal requirements, with Bondi claiming to be part of the most transparent administration in American history.
The term Epstein files refers to the extensive collection of information amassed by the US justice department during its two criminal investigations into Epstein.
A law compelling the release of the full trove was signed by President Donald Trump in November, following pressure from his supporters and members of his own Republican Party. Friday marked the deadline for the release of the material.
Although some documents were disclosed, numerous redactions and withheld information sparked outrage among Massie, his allies, and survivors of Epstein's abuse, with Trump yet to comment on the situation.
The Judicial Department has indicated that additional material will be released in the following weeks.
While speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, Massie criticized the justice department's conduct, arguing they were flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. He suggested inherent contempt as a swift solution to pursue justice for the victims, noting the procedural simplicity of this approach compared to impeachment efforts.
Another advocate for contempt proceedings, Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, discussed potential ramifications, stating the coalition intends to impose fines on Bondi for every day the documents remain unreleased.
During these discussions, Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche, expressed indifference to the legal threats, affirming that the DoJ is fulfilling its statutory obligations.
Senator Tim Kaine from Khanna's party characterized contempt or impeachment discussions as premature, suggesting other legislative tools might be more effective in ensuring compliance.
Moreover, some Epstein-related files that were originally released on Friday experienced removal due to concerns raised by victims, although one key document reinstated after review included an image linked to Trump.
