Court Rejects Lawmakers’ Bid for Independent Monitor of Epstein Files
A recent ruling by a federal judge has put a halt to efforts by two lawmakers to appoint an independent monitor for the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, presiding in New York, denied the request initiated by Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ro Khanna of California.
Court Denies Request for Independent Monitor of Epstein Files
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was enacted in November, requires the Justice Department to disclose relevant files by December 19, 2025. However, the lawmakers argue that the department has not adhered to the law, stating that they have “failed to meet the act’s requirements in multiple respects.”
Judge’s Rationale
In his seven-page opinion, Judge Engelmayer expressed his inability to supervise the Justice Department’s compliance with this law, stating his jurisdiction only covered criminal cases like that of Ghislaine Maxwell. He acknowledged the concerns raised by both the representatives and victims of Jeffrey Epstein but emphasized that the law did not confer upon him the authority to oversee the department’s actions regarding the Epstein files.
Status of the Epstein Files
Despite the deadline approaching, only a small portion of the millions of documents under review has been publicly released. Judge Engelmayer noted that any further steps would require Massie and Khanna to pursue a separate legal action or leverage Congressional oversight powers.
- Lawmakers Involved: Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna
- Enactment Date: November
- Deadline for Document Release: December 19, 2025
- Judge: Paul A. Engelmayer
Justice Department’s Position
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a letter to Judge Engelmayer, argued that the lawmakers did not have standing to request the appointment of an independent monitor. She claimed the judge lacked the authority to handle the matter and noted that the review and redaction process requires the involvement of hundreds of Justice Department lawyers.
Among those involved in the document review are nearly all lawyers from the Southern District U.S. attorney’s office, reflecting the complexity and high-profile nature of the Epstein and Maxwell investigations.
This ruling comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department’s processes and highlights the challenges faced when dealing with sensitive material related to high-profile abuse cases.
