US Justice Department Faces Bipartisan Backlash Over Epstein File Release

Bipartisan anger over the US Department of Justice’s handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents intensified on Monday, with lawmakers threatening to pursue contempt of Congress proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi, while former President Bill Clinton called for the immediate disclosure of any material referring to him.

 

“The DOJ needs to stop protecting the rich, powerful and politically connected,” said Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky in a post on X.

 

The Justice Department released thousands of documents on Friday linked to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019. However, the long-running saga surrounding the files has continued to fuel political divisions, including within the Republican Party, where MAGA supporters -- a core part of President Donald Trump’s voter base -- are demanding full transparency.

 

Trump has previously described the controversy as a Democratic “hoax”, but also signed into law legislation requiring the full disclosure of Epstein-related records. Asked about the issue at a press conference on Monday -- largely focused on new US Navy shipbuilding plans -- Trump criticised the circulation of images allegedly depicting Bill Clinton.

 

“I don’t like pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I don’t like pictures of others being shown -- it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said. He added that many Republicans were angry because the issue was being used to “deflect from a tremendous success” by the administration.

 

Earlier on Monday, Clinton’s spokesman, Angel Urena, urged Bondi to release immediately any remaining Epstein materials that mention Clinton in any way, including photographs. “Someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: we need no such protection,” Urena said.

 

He added that there was “widespread suspicion” that the Justice Department was using selective releases to imply wrongdoing by individuals who had already been cleared by the same department, though he did not specify who shared that view.

 

Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California said they are working together, alongside other unnamed lawmakers, to force the release of documents related to Epstein investigations. Speaking to MS Now, they said that if their demands were not met after a 30-day grace period, they would seek contempt of Congress charges against Bondi in the House of Representatives. They also said Congress could pursue fines of up to $5,000 per day until the documents are released.

 

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation directing Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, to take “appropriate” legal steps to secure congressional access to all documents covered by the disclosure law signed by Trump. It remains unclear whether the proposal will advance when the Senate returns from its holiday recess on January 5. Thune’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin said the agency “will continue to release thousands of pages of material, and no redactions will be made to protect any famous or politically sensitive people”.

 

Despite the DOJ sending two batches of documents to Congress on Friday and Saturday, criticism has continued. The department also failed to meet a deadline last Friday set by the transparency law mandating the broad release of remaining Epstein files.

 

On Monday, a group identifying itself as Epstein abuse survivors said in a statement that the public had so far received only “a fraction of the files”, describing them as “riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation”. They also said some victim identities had been left unredacted.

 

The Justice Department has said it is continuing work to clear additional documents for release to Congress.

 

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