Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department would release only some of the Epstein files on Friday, a move criticized by members of Congress as a violation of the law signed by President Trump last month.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
It is unclear whether that promise, which still violates the law, will be enough to satisfy a broad group of lawmakers who threatened retaliation over incomplete disclosures on Friday.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
In a letter from Blanche to Congress, he implied that the rest of the files would be released in 2025, writing that he would “inform Congress when that review and production are complete by the end of this year.” According to the New York Times.
It is unclear whether that promise, which still violates the law, will be enough to satisfy a broad group of lawmakers who threatened retaliation over incomplete disclosures on Friday.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
The Ministry of Justice began FilesIt was released at 4pm ET, although the scope and recency of the documents were initially unclear. Many of them have been heavily revised. The webpage had a waiting list for those trying to access it, and the site’s search function appeared to be broken — with searches for “Epstein” and “Maxwell” yielding no results.
In a letter from Blanche to Congress, he implied that the rest of the files would be released in 2025, writing that he would “inform Congress when that review and production are complete by the end of this year.” According to the New York Times.
It is unclear whether that promise, which still violates the law, will be enough to satisfy a broad group of lawmakers who threatened retaliation over incomplete disclosures on Friday.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
“I expect we will release hundreds of thousands of documents today, and these documents will come in various forms – photographs and other materials related to all investigations related to Mr. Epstein,” Blanche told Fox News, adding that “over the next two weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.”
The Ministry of Justice began FilesIt was released at 4pm ET, although the scope and recency of the documents were initially unclear. Many of them have been heavily revised. The webpage had a waiting list for those trying to access it, and the site’s search function appeared to be broken — with searches for “Epstein” and “Maxwell” yielding no results.
In a letter from Blanche to Congress, he implied that the rest of the files would be released in 2025, writing that he would “inform Congress when that review and production are complete by the end of this year.” According to the New York Times.
It is unclear whether that promise, which still violates the law, will be enough to satisfy a broad group of lawmakers who threatened retaliation over incomplete disclosures on Friday.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
“I expect we will release hundreds of thousands of documents today, and these documents will come in various forms – photographs and other materials related to all investigations related to Mr. Epstein,” Blanche told Fox News, adding that “over the next two weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.”
The Ministry of Justice began FilesIt was released at 4pm ET, although the scope and recency of the documents were initially unclear. Many of them have been heavily revised. The webpage had a waiting list for those trying to access it, and the site’s search function appeared to be broken — with searches for “Epstein” and “Maxwell” yielding no results.
In a letter from Blanche to Congress, he implied that the rest of the files would be released in 2025, writing that he would “inform Congress when that review and production are complete by the end of this year.” According to the New York Times.
It is unclear whether that promise, which still violates the law, will be enough to satisfy a broad group of lawmakers who threatened retaliation over incomplete disclosures on Friday.
In a tweet without comment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who led the effort to release the files with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), highlighted the portion of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (signed November 19) that mandates the release of the files “no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this law.”
“Any Department of Justice official who does not comply with this law will be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice,” Khanna said in a speech on the House floor this week. “If Pam Bondi does not comply with the law, she will be held either in standing contempt of Congress or liable to impeachment.”
House Oversight Ranking Members Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) made a similar threat on Friday, saying in a statement: “We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
“The law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump was as clear as can be — the Trump administration had 30 days to release all of the Epstein files, not just some,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “Failing to do so is breaking the law.”
“Oh my God, what’s in Epstein’s files?” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) tweeted. “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
The risk that the Trump administration would tamper with its reluctant release of the files was already high; She did provide public information as new material, promised to release the files of her own volition before backing down, and in the case of prosecutor Pam Bondi, said Epstein’s “client list” did not exist after claiming they were on her desk.
Trump has also repeatedly used the files as a weapon in an attempt to harm prominent Democrats. Their release, highly anticipated by both news reporters and the public, with documents damaging to his enemies would fit this strategy.
Blanche notes that the administration intends to wage a war of attrition, dumping thousands of documents at once to make it difficult to ascertain context and identify any missing pieces. It raises the possibility that media outlets and online personalities will race against each other to publish new details, giving more momentum to speed than accuracy.
The files come from an untrustworthy source and will inevitably spark a feeding frenzy. The Trump administration using its discretion — and breaking the law — to divide files into multiple tranches only increases the odds that documents will be released strategically.
