A pair of US lawmakers have threatened legal action against US Attorney General Pam Bondi, following her deadline to release all government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which was met only in part.
The release of the Department of Justice (DoJ) documents was highly anticipated, yet only a portion of the available material was made public.
Leading this protest, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie mentioned he could pursue contempt proceedings against Bondi as a response.
While the DoJ claims it is complying with legal requirements, Bondi asserts her role in a transparent administration.
The term Epstein files refers to substantial information collected by the US justice department during its investigations into Epstein.
A law mandating the full release of these documents was enacted by President Donald Trump in November, yielding pressure from party members. The deadline for the material release was set for Friday.
Despite some information being disclosed, it contained significant redactions and withheld details, frustrating Massie, his supporters, and Epstein's abuse survivors. Trump has yet to comment on the matter.
The DoJ has indicated further material would be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Massie accused the department of flouting the spirit and the letter of the law and suggested that inherent contempt could expedite justice for victims without court involvement.
Inherent contempt is a seldom-used legal measure that Congress can invoke, recently referenced by Massie alongside a Democratic congressman, Ro Khanna, who is also advocating for the full release of the Epstein files.
On the same platform, Khanna explained that the contempt proceedings could impose fines on Bondi for every day the documents remain unreleased.
As a potential alternative to impeachment, Massie noted that contempt measures could be pursued solely with support from the House of Representatives.
Bondi's deputy, Todd Blanche, dismissed the threats during an NBC interview, emphasizing their commitment to compliance with the law amid handling millions of sensitive documents.
Blanche explained that release schedules could extend beyond the initial deadline, reiterating their compliance. He also acknowledged the withdrawal and reinstatement of Epstein-related files from the DoJ's website, addressing concerns raised by victims.
Senator Tim Kaine mentioned that calls for contempt or impeachment are premature, advocating for legislative tools to compel compliance if necessary.
This situation highlights ongoing scrutiny towards the government’s handling of the Epstein files and the push for accountability from lawmakers.
