DOJ faces mounting frustrations over Epstein files
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - The Justice Department (DOJ) release of thousands of records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued this weekend after Congress passed bipartisan legislation last month forcing the release.
It comes as the DOJ faces growing questions over how those files are being rolled out, and why some documents still haven't come to light.
Mounting frustration Monday morning among members of Congress and Epstein survivors after the DOJ failed to release all the Epstein files by a Friday deadline required by law.
"They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law...and I won't be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied," said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
The House Republican and Democrat who've led the charge on forcing the documents' release are now threatening to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt, or impeach DOJ officials, pointing to the thousands of documents still not released and hundreds of blacked-out redacted pages.
"The courts are going to find that these were excessive," said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defending the document rollout in an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker.
"We're going through a very methodical process with hundreds of lawyers looking at every single document and making sure that victims names and any of the information from victims is protected and redacted," Deputy Attorney General Blanche shared.
Blanche addressed outcry over photos and documents posted and then removed, including one with an image of President Donald Trump alongside photos of several women that the DOJ later re-posted.
"We learned after releasing that photograph that there were concerns about those, about those women, and the fact that we had put that photo up, so we pulled that photo down. It has nothing to do with President Trump," Blanche explained.
The DOJ underscored that no redactions were made to protect prominent people while a group representing survivors called the release "a step backward for transparency."
If Congress did vote to hold Attorney General Bondi in contempt, she could be detained until the DOJ complies with the law.
Blanche says the DOJ already is complying, and Bondi posted a statement re-affirming that the DOJ is committed to bringing charges against anyone involved in Epstein's crimes.
