Epstein files redactions frustrate lawmakers

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

The U.S. Justice Department released thousands of documents on Friday related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, many documents were heavily redacted, causing outspoken frustration and calls for impeachment proceedings among lawmakers.

The release follows passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act by Congress in November requiring the Justice Department to make publicly available “in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to Epstein.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California and a co-sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said the Department of Justice’s document release did not comply with his legislation. He called for the release of a draft indictment that implicates other powerful individuals associated with Epstein.

“The reality is, Pam Bondi has obfuscated for months,” Khanna said. “It is an incomplete release with too many redactions.”

Khanna said he and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie R-Ky., another sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, are considering impeachments for individuals working at the Justice Department.

“It can be the impeachment of those at [the Justice Department], inherent contempt, or referring for prosecution those who are obstructing justice, we will work with the survivors to demand the full release of these files,” Khanna said.

While the law calls for a wide swath of documents to be released, it gives several notable exceptions. The attorney general is allowed to withhold or redact portions of records containing child sexual abuse material, personally identifiable information of victims, and documents that would interfere with active federal investigations or ongoing prosecutions.

President Donald Trump called for a probe into several top political figures and institutions before the Epstein Files Transparency Act was passed by Congress. He called for a probe into former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury secretary Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman and J.P. Morgan Chase.

It appears ongoing investigations, possibly including Trump’s probe, led to more redactions in the released files. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the full release of the files would be delayed until the end of the year.

The Justice Department said it included its own redactions in addition to information already redacted from the document.

“The redaction of victim names and other identifying information has been added by the Department prior to this production, as indicated by markings that read ‘DOJ Redaction,'” the DOJ’s website reads.

A 119-page grand jury document released with the public exposure of the Epstein files was entirely redacted. Additionally, six pages from documents provided by the FBI have no information, instead displaying “deleted page information.”

Massie said the DOJ’s document release “grossly fails” to “comply with both the spirit and letter” of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

In a letter to Congress, Blanche said more than 1,200 people were identified as victims of Epstein. However, the names of these victims were redacted in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

“In view of the Congressional deadline, all reasonable efforts have been made to review and redact personal information pertaining to victims, other private individuals, and protect sensitive materials from disclosure,” the Justice Department’s website reads.