DOJ misses Epstein files deadline as Congress weighs contempt

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by Trump, required DOJ to release all Jeffrey Epstein documents by December 19, 2025. DOJ released only a partial set, violating the statute. Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie — a bipartisan pair — threatened inherent contempt proceedings against AG Pam Bondi that could impose $5,000-per-day fines. Deputy AG Todd Blanche said the full files would be released in "a few more weeks" while attorneys redacted victim information.

Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act requiring all Epstein documents to be released by Dec. 19, 2025. Almost three weeks after the deadline, the Department of Justice still hasn't released the full trove of documents. On Dec. 24, after the statutory deadline, the Justice Department said the SDNY and FBI had uncovered more than a million additional documents potentially related to the Epstein case, warning it could take a few more weeks to sift through all the materials. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have threatened to bring inherent contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi which, if successful, could fine her $5,000 every day the Epstein documents aren't released in accordance with the law. Khanna said the legislation would fine her up to $5,000 a day. On Jan. 8, 2026, Massie and Khanna formally asked a federal judge in the Southern District of New York to appoint a special master or independent monitor to ensure all materials are released. In their filing, Massie and Khanna stated that "the DOJ can't be trusted with making mandatory disclosures under the Act." Legal experts question whether the DOJ has authority to delay a mandatory disclosure deadline set by Congress. The DOJ hasn't provided a specific timeline for completing the release beyond "a few more weeks."