Lawmakers say the Epstein files release was

[ad_1] Washington — Lawmakers who led the push to compel the discharge of the information associated to late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein criticized the Justice Division's launch of an preliminary tranche of information and pictures Sunday, advocating for survivors looking for extra key paperwork about people concerned within the abuse.

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California known as the discharge a "slap within the face of survivors."

"It is not in regards to the timeline, it is in regards to the selective concealment," Khanna stated on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan ."

On Friday, the Justice Division started disclosing hundreds of information, dealing with a deadline to launch all of the information in accordance with a regulation signed earlier this yr. The information included new pictures of distinguished figures and of Epstein's travels and numerous houses. In addition they embrace grand jury transcripts from the assorted circumstances introduced in opposition to Epstein and his associates. Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche stated the Justice Division would proceed to launch the information over the following couple weeks.

The disclosures sparked scrutiny from survivors and a few lawmakers, who argue that the information ought to have been launched in full by the Dec. 19 deadline.

Khanna clarified that for him, the issue is not "that it is taking too lengthy," however quite that the Justice Division hasn't hasn't launched "key paperwork" that survivors are looking for that Khanna stated implicate the "wealthy and highly effective males who visited Epstein's rape island and lined up the abuse."

Khanna additionally known as the redactions to the launched information "extreme." CBS Information discovered that at the least 550 pages within the preliminary launch of the paperwork had been totally redacted. The Justice Division has defended its launch and claimed the redactions made had been required by regulation.

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who appeared alongside Khanna on "Face the Nation," stated the Justice Division is "flouting the spirit and the letter of the regulation."

"It is very troubling the posture that they've taken," Massie added. "And I will not be glad till the survivors are glad."

CBS Information has reached out to the Justice Division for remark and can replace this story with any response.

Friday's launch got here after years of stress from lawmakers and survivors, which ramped up in current months as they sought transparency across the authorities's investigations into Epstein after the Justice Division stated in a July inside evaluate that it discovered no "consumer listing." Khanna and Massie led the cost in Congress, incomes assist on a discharge petition to power a vote on a measure that compelled Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi to launch the information. President Trump signed the invoice into regulation final month.

Massie outlined the potential subsequent steps Sunday, saying "the quickest manner, and I feel most expeditious manner, to get justice for these victims is to convey inherent contempt in opposition to Pam Bondi." The Kentucky Republican stated he and Khanna are "speaking about and drafting that proper now." Khanna added that the 2 males are "constructing a bipartisan coalition, and it will positive Pam Bondi for every single day that she's not releasing these paperwork."

"We would like the information out." Khanna stated. "There is a fairly easy level: Who raped these younger women, who lined it up, and why are they getting away with it?"

Massie has pointed to twenty alleged co-conspirators, a quantity he stated he heard from the survivors' legal professionals. Massie stated the legal professionals have "solely given me a type of names," which he stated throughout a congressional listening to in September was Jes Staley, the previous CEO of Barclays Financial institution. Staley has denied wrongdoing and stated he regrets befriending Epstein.

Khanna stated "there are wealthy and highly effective individuals who both engaged on this abuse, lined it up, or had been on this island. And what the American individuals wish to know is who're these individuals?"

"As an alternative of holding them accountable, Pam Bondi is breaking the regulation, and that is the corrupt system, the Epstein class, that persons are sick of," Khanna stated. "So I imagine we will get bipartisan assist in holding her accountable. And a committee of Congress ought to decide whether or not these redactions are justified or not."