The US Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, finds itself embroiled in a fierce political and legal storm following the controversial release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Friday, December 18, the department made public thousands of files from its probe into Epstein's crimes, but the move has been met with scathing criticism and threats of legal action from Congressional Democrats who allege a deliberate cover-up.
Incomplete Release Violates Law, Say Lawmakers
The core of the controversy lies in the nature of the document dump. The Justice Department released only a partial tranche of the Epstein-related materials, with significant portions redacted. Officials cited the extensive effort needed to review the documents and the necessity to protect the identities of Epstein's victims. However, Democrats immediately pointed out that this action appears to violate the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law mandating the near-complete disclosure of these documents by December 19.
Congressman Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who co-authored the law, slammed the release as non-compliant. In a video statement, he accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of continuing to cover up for prominent men involved. "The DOJ still is covering up for prominent men who abused or raped young girls or were at parties where these young girls were being paraded & abused," Khanna stated in a series of posts.
He highlighted that two key documents sought by survivors—a 60-count indictment and an 82-page supporting memo from before Epstein's plea deal—were conspicuously absent from the release. Alongside his co-author, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, Khanna is exploring all options, including possible impeachment of Justice Department officials and holding them in contempt of Congress. Massie even suggested that a future Justice Department could prosecute current officials for failing to comply with the law.
Missing Files and Mounting Suspicious
Frustrations intensified on Saturday, December 19, when it was discovered that the DOJ had removed at least 16 files from its public webpage without explanation. According to an Associated Press tally, these files, which were accessible on Friday, vanished by Saturday. Among the missing items were images, including one that showed a photograph of former President Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump, and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell inside a drawer.
The Justice Department did not clarify why these files disappeared or if it was intentional. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee quickly seized on this, posting on X: "What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public." This incident fueled allegations that the administration is engaged in a Bondi-Patel cover-up, a reference to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel.
White House Defense and Content of the Files
The White House swiftly defended the administration's actions. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated, "The Trump administration is the most transparent in history," arguing that by releasing thousands of pages and cooperating with subpoenas, they have done more for Epstein's victims than Democrats. Vice President JD Vance added to the rhetoric with a suggestive social media post questioning the government's motive for keeping Epstein's clients secret.
Analysts noted that the tens of thousands of pages released offered little new insight into Epstein's crimes or the prosecutorial missteps that allowed him to evade serious charges for years. The material was heavy on photos of Epstein's properties and included evidence from the case against Ghislaine Maxwell. While there were never-before-seen photos of former President Bill Clinton, references to Trump were fleeting, and powerful figures like Britain's Prince Andrew were hardly mentioned. The DOJ stated that more files would be released in the coming weeks, as the volume was too large to process by Congress's deadline.
The episode has escalated into a major confrontation, with Democrats accusing the Trump administration of protecting the President and other perpetrators at the expense of justice for Epstein's survivors, setting the stage for potential legal battles and congressional hearings.
