Justice Department Pushes Back Against Special Master Request for Epstein Files
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In a move that could impact the public's access to records tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, the U.S. Justice Department has asked a New York federal judge to deny a request by two lawmakers seeking a special master to oversee the release of these documents. The Justice Department has been slowly releasing documents related to its Epstein investigations, but Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have criticized the pace as too slow. They requested a special master to ensure full compliance with a law requiring the release of all relevant records by December 19. However, in a six-page letter, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that Khanna and Massie do not have the necessary standing to file a friend of the court request in the U.S. v. Ghislaine Maxwell case, in which Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in helping Epstein abuse underage girls. The Justice Department claims that it needs 400 lawyers from four different offices to review the remaining 5.2 million pages of Epstein files, which are expected to be completed by late January.
