U.S. Rep.Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and other lawmakers recently filed theEpstein Files Transparency Act IIto challenge theU.S. Department of Justicein court for failing to comply with the original law.
Politicians argue the DOJ withheld files related to convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinthat should have been released and botched redactions in the files it did release.
"The Department of Justice continues to unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files that should be released to the public. In addition, the DOJ is unlawfully maintaining heavy redactions on the files it is releasing," Massie said in a statement. "State attorneys general and victims should have the right to sue the Attorney General of the United States to compel compliance with a transparency law President [Donald] Trump signed."
Legislation co-author U.S. Rep.Ro Khanna, D-California, said that since introducing theEpstein Files Transparency Actin November 2025, the DOJ has "violated our law, delayed the release of millions of files, botched the redactions, and denied the survivors justice."
"That’s why I’m joining Rep. Massie and my colleagues to introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which allows state attorneys general and survivors to sue the U.S. Attorney General and demand transparency," Khanna said.
The new legislation follows a July 2 court filing from the DOJ defending the agency's decision towithhold millionsof investigative files,USA TODAY reported. Acting Attorney GeneralTodd Blanchesaid releasing more materials would harm Epstein's victims and the government, and instead offered to share additional materials "in camera," a legal term meaning behind closed doors with a judge.
"The Court should not order the Department to take further action," Blanche said. "The Government can share additional details regarding specific records in camera or with appropriate protections in place."
This story may update.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi and Michael Loria, USA TODAY Network. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
