Members of Congress will be allowed to review the unredacted Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein beginning Monday. The review will take place in person at DOJ offices, where lawmakers can access the documents on computers but cannot handle physical copies or bring electronic devices. This access is limited to members of Congress only, with priority given to leadership and Judiciary Committee members.
The review covers approximately 3 million files already available to the public, not the full collection of over 6 million documents held by the DOJ. The move follows requests from lawmakers and the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates the release of unclassified DOJ records related to Epstein.
**Why this matters**
The availability of unredacted files allows Congress to conduct a more thorough examination of the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, including decisions on investigations and prosecutions. Lawmakers seek to ensure transparency and accountability, especially ahead of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s upcoming Judiciary Committee appearance. The release also responds to criticism over redactions that have either been too broad or insufficient in protecting victim identities.
Source: NewsData