Schumer to take action against DOJ for partial Epstein files release
by Lisa Hornung · UPIDec. 22 (UPI) -- Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he will create legislation to "initiate legal action against the Department of Justice for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files."
"The law Congress passed is crystal clear: release the Epstein files in full so Americans can see the truth," Schumer wrote on X. "Instead, the Trump Department of Justice dumped redactions and withheld the evidence -- that breaks the law."
The Epstein Files Transparency Act became law Nov. 19. It said the Department of Justice had 30 days to release all the files, with victims' names redacted.
Some Jeffrey Epstein case files released Friday were not available one day later, and other files drew criticism for redactions.
More than a dozen files that were available on Friday have disappeared from the DOJ's Epstein Library webpage.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the partial release of information on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday.
"The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that to protect victims," he said. "So, the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don't want us to protect victims."
Blanche has said he expects all the files to be public in two weeks.
The documents were heavily redacted. Some have complained that not enough new information about Epstein's activities were made available.
Some Epstein victims urged the lawmakers to intervene in a statement Monday.
The "public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation. At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm," the statement said.
One image that included a picture of President Donald Trump was removed, but it has been reposted. An explanation by the DOJ was posted on X.
"The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims. Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review," the post said. "After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction."
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in a Manhattan prison while awaiting trial. He was a convicted sex offender and was accused of trafficking underage girls, along with accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is in prison.
Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said they plan to take action in the House.
"The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against [Attorney General] Pam Bondi," Massie said Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation.