'We're now intervening': Lawmaker duo to make big move to force Epstein files' release

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

January 2, 2026 9:22AM ET


Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) plan to make a major announcement next week regarding a new plan to force the Trump administration to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, Khanna announced Friday.

The Justice Department has faced scrutiny over its release of files on Epstein, which was mandated by law to be released with limited redactions by Dec. 19 after the passage of Khanna and Massie’s bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Instead, the DOJ released only a small fraction of its files on Epstein, and with redactions that critics have called unlawful.

The DOJ faced even more scrutiny after announcing on Christmas Eve that it had discovered “a million more documents” related to Epstein held by the Southern District of New York, which is precisely what Khanna and Massie plan to target first. “We’re now going to be intervening with the Southern District of New York to ask those judges to appoint a special master and ensure that all the documents are released,” Khanna announced Friday, speaking with NPR.

“My interest here is to see justice for survivors – it’s not to be punitive – and what I want to see over these next few weeks is for the documents to actually start coming out that the American people and the survivors want to see, which is the documents that name the rich and powerful men who were on Epstein’s rape island.”

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/jeffrey-epstein-2674842883/

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. The Justice Dept. is waaaay overdue for complying with the law. They need to be pushed . . .

and I'm really pleased to see our bipartisan team getting ready to do just that.

Justice has been denied for far too long. The survivors of Epstein's lawlessness are owed nothing less.

[Wiz Imp]

2. "My interest here is to see justice for survivors - it's not to be punitive"

I agree justice for survivors should be the top priority. But justice can only happen if there is some punishment handed out. Everybody who can be proven to have participated in Epstein's illegal activities needs to be held accountable for their crimes, as does the DOJ and anybody else in this administration who participated in the cover up to protect those criminals.

[PatSeg]

3. I find it rather mindboggling

that there are that many documents on one man. After all those years of investigating Epstein and his associates, it must have been a huge letdown for those involved to have him die before they could put him on trial and air his crimes for the public to see.

[returnee]

4. I was hoping for a special master.

Only who would appoint them? If it’s Bondi, they’re sure to be a ringer.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I think a judge does the Special Master appointment.

[returnee]

7. What if any Epstein related cases are still ongoing? n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

9. I don't think that makes a difference per se

as the Special Master would probably take that into account.

I remember during the Michael Cohen case, a Judge appointed a Special Master to go through the material collected to separate out anything that might have been "attorney-client" privilege.

Judge appoints 'special master' to review Michael Cohen documents seized in raid

Also Loose Cannon appointed one to slow down Jack Smith's classified documents case (until the 11 Circuit forced her to drop it) -

11th Circuit Vacates Cannon’s Order to Appoint a Special Master in Mar-a-lago Investigation

[returnee]

8. If the House was to sue Bondi or the DOJ...

…for not complying with the law, perhaps that judge could appoint the Special Master.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I think that is what Khanna and Massie want to do

but am not sure how they would sue other than as members of Congress (vs "the whole House" or as a Committee Chair). Guess we will find out!

[flvegan]

6. "...mandated by law to be released with limited redactions..." So this "law" thing mentioned

obviously ignored, zero consequences. As usual.

So now, a special magistrate will do what? Same bunch of nothing I'm guessing. Let me know when we have charges against folks not complying and someone is in cuffs. Until then I guess just let the circus continue.