US Justice Department Given Leeway to Withhold Explosive Epstein Files, Experts Warn Release Could be Just Tip of Iceberg in Decades-Long Fight for Transparency.
A 30-day countdown has begun for the release of records related to convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associates by the US Justice Department. The passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act sets a critical milestone but also sets up a potentially contentious battle over what information will be made public.
The law governing the release of these documents gives Attorney General Pam Bondi significant discretion in deciding what records to make available to the public. While it requires certain files to be released, including those that contain information on child sexual abuse or images depicting death and physical harm, the attorney general is also allowed to withhold files deemed necessary for ongoing investigations or prosecution.
National security concerns can also be used as a justification for withholding specific documents, particularly given Epstein's extensive ties to foreign governments and intelligence agencies. As such, it remains unclear how much information will ultimately be made public.
Critics like former White House attorney Ty Cobb suggest that the administration is more interested in avoiding embarrassment than providing meaningful transparency. "It's hard for me to understand why people don't recognize this as the total scam it is," he said. According to Cobb, the real documents will likely only come out if forced by a court, and even then, they are likely to be limited.
Law professor Caren Morrison agrees, warning that information related to Democrats connected to Epstein, such as former President Bill Clinton or LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, may be released but records tied to Republicans like Donald Trump may remain classified. "It's kind of unclear — what could they be coming up with?" she said.
The new law shares some similarities with a 1992 law aimed at disclosing documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which ultimately led to years of bureaucratic battles between government agencies and researchers seeking access to records. As such, the Epstein Files Transparency Act may pave the way for future lawsuits against the government, as seen in a recent case brought by Democracy Forward.
The latest development has been welcomed by advocates like Skyye Perryman, who stated that her organization will continue to use the courts to shine light on what the administration is doing with the Epstein files. However, there remains concern that even if the law holds true, it may be limited in its application due to potential interpretations of the statute.
One significant point is whether only members of Congress have standing to bring such suits, which could transform the issue into a political matter rather than a purely legal one once again.
A 30-day countdown has begun for the release of records related to convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associates by the US Justice Department. The passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act sets a critical milestone but also sets up a potentially contentious battle over what information will be made public.
The law governing the release of these documents gives Attorney General Pam Bondi significant discretion in deciding what records to make available to the public. While it requires certain files to be released, including those that contain information on child sexual abuse or images depicting death and physical harm, the attorney general is also allowed to withhold files deemed necessary for ongoing investigations or prosecution.
National security concerns can also be used as a justification for withholding specific documents, particularly given Epstein's extensive ties to foreign governments and intelligence agencies. As such, it remains unclear how much information will ultimately be made public.
Critics like former White House attorney Ty Cobb suggest that the administration is more interested in avoiding embarrassment than providing meaningful transparency. "It's hard for me to understand why people don't recognize this as the total scam it is," he said. According to Cobb, the real documents will likely only come out if forced by a court, and even then, they are likely to be limited.
Law professor Caren Morrison agrees, warning that information related to Democrats connected to Epstein, such as former President Bill Clinton or LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, may be released but records tied to Republicans like Donald Trump may remain classified. "It's kind of unclear — what could they be coming up with?" she said.
The new law shares some similarities with a 1992 law aimed at disclosing documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which ultimately led to years of bureaucratic battles between government agencies and researchers seeking access to records. As such, the Epstein Files Transparency Act may pave the way for future lawsuits against the government, as seen in a recent case brought by Democracy Forward.
The latest development has been welcomed by advocates like Skyye Perryman, who stated that her organization will continue to use the courts to shine light on what the administration is doing with the Epstein files. However, there remains concern that even if the law holds true, it may be limited in its application due to potential interpretations of the statute.
One significant point is whether only members of Congress have standing to bring such suits, which could transform the issue into a political matter rather than a purely legal one once again.
I'm so done with all this secrecy and backroom deals. I mean, we're still waiting for those Epstein files after years, and now it's like, who knows what's gonna come out? 
The gov't is just trying to control the narrative and keep us in the dark, you know? And don't even get me started on the politics - Democrats, Republicans, it's all about who's got power, right? 
And let's be real, how much do we really know about what's going on behind closed doors? It's like, we're just scratching the surface here.
! The fact that they're even trying to withhold files now is just a huge red flag. I mean, come on, the Epstein Files Transparency Act was passed for a reason - it's about transparency, not about covering up scandals. This whole thing reeks of an administration trying to avoid embarrassment and keep the truth under wraps. And don't even get me started on the whole "national security" excuse 
- that's just a cop-out.
. Look, I get it, there are gonna be some tough decisions made here, but at least have the decency to acknowledge that.
. And let's not forget about all the potential court battles and lawsuits that could come out of this - it's gonna get messy, folks! Mark my words.
It's also kinda funny that some ppl are comparing this to the JFK assassination records case - like, is this really just a repeat of history or what? 
The cat's out of the bag - it looks like the government is tryin' to keep its paws on the Epstein files and hide some skeletons in the closet! 
As the saying goes, "The truth will set you free," but it seems like they're more interested in keepin' the truth locked up tight. 
The real question is, what's behind the curtain? 
Will we ever get to see the full picture, or are we just gonna be stuck in the dark forever? 
. I mean, come on, 30 days is just too short for us to know what's really going on here. It's like they're trying to hide something from us. And the fact that the Attorney General has a lot of discretion in deciding what records to release or withhold is super suspicious 
.
I mean, think about it, if they're hiding info from Democrats and Republicans alike, what else could be going on? It's like a big ol' mess, and we need to clean it up