The Epstein File, Accountability, and What Lawmakers Can Do
There are several steps lawmakers can take to act on the Epstein files. USA TODAY’s Aisha Bagchi explains.
Starting February 9, members of Congress will be able to view unredacted versions of the more than 3 million pages of Epstein files released by the Justice Department, according to a letter obtained by USA TODAY.
Lawmakers will be required to view files on Justice Department computers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to review these documents, according to a letter sent to lawmakers from the attorney general’s office. Staff reading documents may take notes, but electronic devices must be kept outside the reading room.
The Justice Department has not released the nearly 2.5 million pages of Epstein files to Congress, which it had completely withheld. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference on January 30 that the government’s files total more than 6 million pages.
“We are confident that this review further demonstrates the department’s good faith efforts to properly process large volumes of documents in a very short period of time,” Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis said in the letter.
The department noted in the letter that lawmakers must adhere to legal restrictions on sharing information they see. Although the letter did not mention any specific restrictions, the Epstein File Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to release various files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allowed the Justice Department to withhold various types of information, including information that would identify victims.
California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, one of the transparency law’s lead sponsors, plans to go to the Justice Department on Feb. 9 to examine the unredacted files, Khanna spokeswoman Sarah Drory told USA TODAY.
Legislative staff will not be allowed to review the document, the letter said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
