Congressional Push for Contempt Charges Against AG Bondi Over Epstein Files

Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have announced their intention to pursue contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to fully release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein by a legally mandated deadline.

According to NBC News, they criticized the Justice Department's partial release of files, calling it a violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act they authored, which requires all unclassified documents to be released.

Massie stated on CBS's Face the Nation that the quickest way to secure justice for Epstein's victims is to invoke inherent contempt against Bondi, which would allow Congress to impose fines without needing court approval.

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the department's actions, explaining that the delays were due to the necessary redaction of sensitive information concerning Epstein's victims, asserting that they are complying with the law.

The House will need to vote on any contempt resolution, which Khanna indicated might include fines for every day Bondi fails to comply. The push for accountability underscores ongoing tensions around transparency in government and the handling of high-profile cases.

Senator Tim Kaine expressed concern that discussions of impeachment or contempt may be premature, favoring other compliance mechanisms available to Congress, as reported by The New York Sun and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.