U.S. Congress escalating pressure on the Justice Department after it released only a partial and heavily redacted set of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite a new federal law requiring full disclosure by a statutory deadline.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he is introducing a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against the Justice Department, accusing it of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

“The law Congress passed is crystal clear: the Epstein files must be released in full,” Schumer said in a statement. “Instead, the Department of Justice withheld evidence and issued sweeping redactions. That is a violation of the law and a betrayal of public trust.”
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Bipartisan Push Targets Attorney General Pam Bondi

Schumer’s announcement follows a rare bipartisan effort led by Ro Khanna, a Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Republican. Over the weekend, both lawmakers confirmed they are considering contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to fully comply with the law.

Khanna and Massie jointly authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by Donald Trump last month. The legislation granted the Justice Department 30 days to release a broad range of unclassified documents related to Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and others connected to their cases.

While the law permits limited redactions such as protecting victims’ identities or preserving grand jury secrecy lawmakers argue the DOJ exceeded those allowances.

Lawmakers Question Scope of Redactions

Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Massie said the fastest path to accountability may be invoking Congress’s inherent contempt powers.

“The most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” Massie said, adding that discussions with Khanna are ongoing.

Khanna later told The Washington Post that the proposed resolution would also allow a congressional committee to review any redactions and determine whether they are legally justified.

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Justice Department Defends Its Approach

The Justice Department began releasing Epstein-related files on Friday the deadline set by the law but warned ahead of time that not all documents would be made public.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the decision, saying the department was carefully reviewing each document to ensure victims’ identities remained protected.

“We are examining every single page to ensure victims are fully protected,” Blanche told Fox News, adding that additional documents would be released in the coming weeks.

Survivors and Advocates Condemn Partial Disclosure

Epstein survivors and advocacy groups swiftly criticized the release, arguing that the documents contained little new information and failed to meet the law’s transparency goals.

“For survivors, this deadline was not symbolic—it was a real test of whether transparency would finally outweigh the protection of powerful interests,” said Liz Stein, an Epstein survivor and anti‑trafficking advocate. She added that the DOJ’s staggered and heavily redacted release “falls far short of the transparency Congress intended.”

Lawmakers echoed those concerns, warning that continued delays and redactions risk undermining public confidence and shielding individuals and institutions connected to Epstein’s abuse network.

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What Happens Next

With legal and congressional action now on the table, the Justice Department faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein files. Whether the dispute escalates into court proceedings or contempt actions may depend on the scope and timing of future releases.

For now, pressure from both parties is intensifying, signaling that the battle over transparency and accountability is far from over.