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Ro Khanna calls for special master on Epstein records
Lawmakers ask federal judge to oversee Justice Department disclosures required under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sat, 10, Jan 2026
- 00:33 EST
- 27
Ro Khanna / X@Ro Khanna
Rep. Ro Khanna said Jan. 8 that he and Rep. Thomas Massie asked a federal judge to appoint a special master to compel the Justice Department to release the full Epstein files required by law.
Khanna and Massie, sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York seeking independent oversight of the disclosures. The lawmakers said the department has failed to meet statutory deadlines, made excessive redactions and removed records after publication without explanation.
“The Department of Justice is openly defying the law by refusing to release the full Epstein files. Millions of files are being kept from the public,” Khanna said.
He said the department “has failed to make the necessary redactions to protect survivors while removing records after publication without any explanation.”
Massie said Attorney General Pam Bondi was “egregiously violating the requirements” of the law. He accused the department of missing deadlines, withholding internal communications and making improper redactions, and said a special master should oversee compliance.
ALSO READ: Rep. Khanna lauds third judge’s order to unseal Epstein records
In the letter, the lawmakers said the Justice Department released only a portion of responsive materials on Dec. 19, 2025, and did not comply with the statute. They cited missed deadlines, claims of privileges not permitted by the act and redactions that they said conflict with limits on protecting politically exposed persons.
They also said some records released Dec. 19 were later removed and that the department acknowledged posting information that victims believed should have been redacted. The lawmakers said those issues warrant independent review.
The letter said the department reported producing about 12,285 documents, or roughly 125,575 pages, while stating that more than 2 million documents remain under review. The lawmakers said no required report to Congress detailing releases and redactions has been provided.
They asked the court to appoint a special master or independent monitor to oversee disclosures and report on compliance.
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