Attorney General Pam Bondi will face a fine for each day the Department of Justice fails to release the full Jeffrey Epstein files. This will occur if a bipartisan effort to hold her in contempt of Congress succeeds.

California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie said they plan to pursue legal action against Bondi. The duo authored the legislation requiring the DOJ to release all Epstein-related information.

Now they vow to go after Bondi for failing to follow the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump. Under their plan, Bondi would face daily fines after a 30-day grace period.

 

The Trump administration is facing backlash from lawmakers and advocates across the political spectrum. The DOJ released only part of its files on Jeffrey Epstein by the December 19, 2025, deadline set by law.

Hundreds of thousands of Epstein-related documents remain unreleased and are not expected to be released for weeks.

The files that have been released are heavily redacted. Documents related to a 119-page grand jury investigation were fully redacted as well. The very next day, the department posted another version, saying, “Here is the document now with minimal redactions.”

The DOJ also redacted at least 16 files that had initially been available online, including an image of Trump. However, the Trump picture was later restored after intense scrutiny.

Lawmakers and advocates are pledging to push for the full release of the government’s files on the convicted financier. Khanna and Massie told The Washington Post that they aim to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against Bondi. This move requires only House approval.

Khanna plans to give Bondi 30 days to release the rest of the Epstein files before imposing a daily fine until she complies with the law. Khanna, however, added, “Our goal is not to take down Bondi. Our goal is to get the documents out for the survivors. Our goal is to take down the rich and powerful men…”

WOW.

Khanna wants a Congressional committee to check the redacted content to make sure the expunged material is warranted. The DOJ has maintained that many of the redactions were made to safeguard victims’ privacy or minors. 

Massie stated that pursuing contempt of Congress is one of many ways to force Bondi to release all files as demanded by law. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche brushed off the threat and told NBC’s Meet the Press, “Bring it on.”

The limited release of the Epstein files has rekindled claims of a supposed cover-up of crimes committed by the late financier and his network of high-profile individuals. Those concerns reached a new height in July after the DOJ and FBI denied having any evidence of a so-called Epstein “client list.” 

Bondi dubbed Friday’s release the “first phase” and vowed the DOJ is following through on Trump’s “commitment” to transparency. The president had staunchly opposed the release of the files for months. But soon rolled over to support it as the legislation gained support in Congress.  

The lack of Trump in the Epstein files released so far has raised questions. Recently, the president’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, acknowledged to Vanity Fair that he would appear in the files.