House Democrats say they are ready to sue the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump. They argue the department ignored federal law and missed a court deadline when releasing records tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The DOJ released some documents this week. But lawmakers say the release falls far short of what the law and the court required.
Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts said Democrats could file suit or seek contempt charges as early as next week.
Lawmakers Call the Release Selective
News coverage of the document release has varied. Some reports described it as a large trove of files. Others focused on claims involving more than 12,200 victims.
Lynch, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said the DOJ earned a “C minus” for compliance. He accused the department of handpicking what to release.
He noted that the files included specific items, such as photos of Bill Clinton. At the same time, he said many other records were withheld or so heavily redacted that they are impossible to understand.
Possible Violations of Federal Law
Democrats argue the DOJ may be violating the Epstein Transparency Act. The law was passed to limit redactions and require the release of grand jury material
Lynch said the DOJ broke both the intent of the law and a direct court order. One grand jury report of more than 100 pages was released completely blacked out, even though a judge ruled it could be made public.
“They said the delay was because they were organizing everything,” Lynch said. He described the final release as disorganized and lacking context.
He also said the DOJ admitted it did not fully meet the deadline, which he called sloppy and self-defeating.
Legal Action Could Come Quickly
The House Oversight Committee and its subcommittees issued the subpoenas for these records. Lynch said Democrats do not plan to wait.
He said they could return to federal court as soon as Monday. Their goal would be to force the DOJ to explain every redaction that hides evidence. Under the law, the department normally has 14 days to justify redactions. Lawmakers say the level of noncompliance justifies faster court action.
Focus on Victims and Accountability
Some observers believe the delays may be a political tactic. Lynch said many people involved are acting in good faith to bring the full truth to light, especially for the victims.
For now, the dispute over the remaining Epstein files appears headed for a courtroom fight.
A Simple Comparison
Lynch compared the situation to a student ordered to turn in a full research paper. Instead, the student submits a few photos and a stack of blacked-out pages. Something was turned in on time, but it did not meet the assignment.
