(The Hill) — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a lead co-sponsor for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said Friday that lawmakers were mulling possible impeachment moves after the Justice Department (DOJ) released a tranche of heavily redacted files tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna raised questions about the “quality” of the documents released and the redactions he deemed to be heavy-handed, lacking the explicit explanation for the withheld information required by the law, signed by President Trump late last month.
“Congress is talking about possible impeachment. They’re talking about inherent contempt for the attorney general or deputy attorney general,” he said during an appearance on CNN’s “AC360.”
“Any justice department official who has obstructed justice could face prosecution in this administration or a future administration,” the California Democrat added.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche oversaw the latest file release, which did not include all of the files required by the legislation. Blanche and others alleged the process of redacting names to protect Epstein’s victims and other innocent people was too time-consuming to be able to unveil all of the documents at once.
He added that Trump did not direct him to leave his name or others’ names out of the release — but some photos of those perceived to be adults were blocked out.
“I don’t know what the president has said, but what I do know is that [Blanche’s] production violates the spirit of the law, and it violates the letter of the law, and it’s a slap in the face of survivors,” Khanna told CNN host John King.
“And so, look, they have underestimated this issue for six months. I don’t get it. Just release the files, get it over with,” he continued. “The president can talk about affordability and the economy. They’re the ones who continue to play these games that make this a bigger and bigger issue.”
The DOJ, according to Blanche, will release the “several hundred thousand” files in the weeks to come.
Epstein survivors had pressed for the release of all files tied to the disgraced financier in an effort to hold him and his wealthy entourage accountable for committing crimes, including running an alleged sex trafficking ring involving underaged girls.
“Americans don’t trust politicians that much,” Khanna said Friday. “They trust those women, and they are going to be back on The Hill. And the country will hear from them.”
Friday’s document dump has received criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with several threatening legal action.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who co-sponsored the legislation with Khanna, accused the Trump administration of “grossly” violating its legal obligations. In a post on social platform X, he said the disclosure “fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that [the president] signed just 30 days ago.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Friday that Senate Democrats “are working closely with attorneys for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and with outside legal experts to assess what documents are being withheld.” Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, also said they are “examining all legal options” after the partial release.
“The Department of Justice is now making clear it intends to defy Congress itself,” they wrote in a joint statement. “Courts around the country have repeatedly intervened when this Administration has broken the law. We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
Despite the pushback, at least one Epstein accuser said she felt “redeemed” by the release.
