Massie, Khanna Effort To Speed Release of Epstein Files Falls Short in Federal Court

With Ghislaine Maxwell now scheduled to testify before Congress next month, a federal judge has denied a request by Congressmen Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna to appoint an independent monitor to make sure the Justice Department releases all of the files related to investigations of Jeffrey Epstein.The document release is mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act that Messrs. Massie and Khanna shepherded through Congress in November. It required that all the documents be released by December 19.So far, just a fraction of the documents have been released and many of those were heavily redacted.The congressmen stated, in a letter to the judge, that the Justice Department was in “flagrant violation” of the law. Epstein victims also sent the court letters and emails supporting the request for appointment of an independent monitor to assure compliance.Attorney General Pam Bondi is blaming the delays on the need to review all of the documents and redact information about the victims. She also stated that Messrs. Massie and Khanna did not have standing in the case.Manhattan Federal District Court Judge Paul A. Engelmayer sympathized with the congressmen, but ruled on Wednesday that he does not have jurisdiction to supervise the department’s compliance with the act. He also stated that the congressmen don’t have standing to intervene in the criminal case against Maxwell.Judge Englemayer said the request raised “legitimate concerns about whether D.O.J. is faithfully complying with federal law” but his hands were tied. He did say they have the option to file a separate lawsuit and says they are “at liberty to pursue oversight of the DOJ via the tools available to Congress.”Maxwell is set to give a deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 9, the panel’s chairman, Congressman James Comer says.Maxwell’s deposition is expected to be virtual, Politico reported, and she is expected to invoke her fifth amendment rights and refuse to answer any questions.Maxwell is serving a 20 year sentence in Texas for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s underage sex-trafficking operation. She has filed an appeal and is seeking a commutation of her sentence.

Massie, Khanna Effort To Speed Release of Epstein Files Falls Short in Federal Court

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