Lawmakers want a special master to force DOJ to release all Epstein files

• The deadline was set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was Congress passed virtually unanimously and Trump signed into law.
• But the DOJ has released just 12,285 documents and said it needs more time to review and redact the more than 2 million remaining files.

Driving the news: Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), the lead sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, made the ask in a letter sent Thursday to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer.

• "Put simply, the DOJ cannot be trusted with making mandatory disclosures under the Act," they wrote.
• The two lawmakers continued that while they believe the failure to disclose all the files on time constitutes a criminal violation, "the most urgent need now is for the DOJ to produce all the documents."
• "We suggest ... this Court appoint [a] Special Master and/or Independent Monitor for the purpose of ensuring all the documents and electronically stored information are immediately made public."

Between the lines: Khanna and Massie said the special master should be authorized to write to the court "about the true nature and extent of the document production and if improper redactions or other improper conduct is taking place."

• They said the court should compel testimony from officials at the Justice Department about the document production process.
• "Absent an independent process, as outlined above, we do not believe the DOJ will produce the records that are required by the Act and what it has represented to this Court."
• The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.