Tensions between Capitol Hill and the Justice Department reached a boiling point this weekend following the partial release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with a bipartisan pair of lawmakers now threatening to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in “inherent contempt.”
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), the architects of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, expressed frustration Sunday that the DOJ failed to meet Friday’s deadline to release all unclassified documents. While thousands of pages were made public, the lawmakers contend the release was incomplete and arguably in violation of the law.
Massie, speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” argued that standard congressional maneuvers aren’t enough. He is pushing for “inherent contempt,” a rare congressional power that allows the House to essentially act as a court, potentially levying personal fines against executive branch officials who defy subpoenas or laws.
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“The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims, is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” Massie said.
Khanna backed this aggressive stance, noting that they are building a bipartisan coalition to force the issue. He clarified that unlike impeachment, which requires the Senate, inherent contempt only needs a House vote. The goal, Khanna explained, would be to fine Bondi “for every day that she’s not releasing these documents.”
The response from the Justice Department was defiant. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and dismissed the threats from the lawmakers entirely.
“Bring it on,” Blanche said. “We are doing everything we’re supposed to be doing to comply with this statute.”
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Blanche defended the delay, stating that hundreds of lawyers are currently engaged in a “methodical process” to redact sensitive information, specifically photos and details related to Epstein’s victims. He argued that the lawmakers criticizing the department “have no idea what they’re talking about.”
Not everyone in Congress is ready to escalate to contempt or impeachment immediately. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), also appearing on Sunday talk shows, called impeachment talk “premature.” Kaine suggested using the “power of the purse” instead, pointing to mechanisms in appropriations bills that could restrict funding to force compliance—similar to provisions effectively used against the Defense Department.
“I’d rather focus on those tools than get into discussions about contempt and impeachment,” Kaine said.
The clash comes amid the release of varied materials, including undated photos of former President Bill Clinton. While Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in the files, Kaine suggested the former president “should address” the images if questions remain. A spokesperson for Clinton fired back, accusing the administration of using “grainy 20-plus-year-old photos” as a shield to distract from their own delays.
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Despite the political firestorm, Blanche confirmed that the DOJ is not currently preparing to bring charges against anyone based on the newly released files, though he noted they are “learning new information all the time.”
For now, Massie and Khanna appear ready to test the limits of congressional authority. Massie noted on social media that the Transparency Act was written specifically to avoid the expiration dates attached to normal subpoenas, warning that a failure to comply now could leave current officials open to prosecution by a future administration.
“Any Justice Department official who has obstructed justice could face prosecution in this administration or a future administration,” Khanna warned.
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