The Department of Justice is continuing to refuse to release the Epstein files, after being ordered by Congress to release all files by Dec. 19.
Democrats are accusing the president, vice-president and DOJ of a cover-up and some Republicans say the agency is “clearly in violation of the law.
Thus far, the Justice Department has released only a small fraction of documents tied to Epstein’s case. In a court filing, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said 400 DOJ officials are reviewing more than 2 million files, after an additional 1 million documents were uncovered during the Christmas holiday.
The Jeffrey Epstein investigation began 20 years ago led to his arrest and conviction for sex offenses, though the major federal sex trafficking charges and final arrest occurred in July 2019, culminating in his alleged suicide death in August 2019. As of January 2026, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38), which was signed into law on Nov. 19, 2025, the Attorney General was directed to release all unclassified documents, including flight logs, personal communications, and investigative materials. Only a few have been released.
The DOJ has argued that members of Congress cannot directly intervene in the release process, citing the need to protect the identities of victims and manage ongoing, active investigations, though the victims are also demanding the release of the documents.
Lawmakers must now consider further actions to ensure compliance which can include several options which take even more time and delay.
Options include filing a lawsuit to compel production, hold officials in contempt, appoint an independent monitor, utilize subpoena power or hold more hearings which could end up taking months or years.
The law allows the Justice Department to withhold or redact records that, if made public, would constitute 'a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.'
It also bars the release of any materials depicting the sexual abuse of children, or images of death, physical abuse, or injury.
However, the law also makes clear that no records shall be withheld or redacted — meaning certain parts are blacked out — solely because their release would cause embarrassment or reputational harm to any public figure, government official or foreign dignitary.