The Justice Department began releasing the Epstein files, with many of them heavily redacted

Jeff Bennett:

Welcome to the News Hour.

Late this afternoon, the Department of Justice began releasing thousands of pages of files and communications related to the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The new documents include photos, call logs, court files and more, many of which have been heavily redacted.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, joins us now.

So, Liz, you and our team have been reading these documents. What stands out so far?

Liz Landers:

Well, there are thousands of documents released today. That’s far less than what the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Todd Blanche, said. He said this would take a few weeks.

What we’ve noticed in today’s release so far is that this is broken down into a few different categories. A lot of new information is being released under the category of Department of Justice revelations. We’ve seen a revised list of masseuses with over 250 names, all redacted.

We also found at least one grand jury document there from United States v. Epstein. This is the key. We haven’t seen that document yet, but that’s definitely something we’ll look into.

There are tons and tons of pictures in this. That’s really the bulk of what’s in today’s release, many of the photos showing Jeffrey Epstein and his lifestyle, including his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Former President Bill Clinton also appears in a number of these photos. He’s traveling with Ghislaine Maxwell in one of these photos. It looks like they are in a foreign country. There is another photo of them in the pool. Then there are several other photos of the former president with women whose faces have been erased.

Now, former President Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. These are undated photos, so we do not know when these photos were taken of the former president.

And a lot of what we saw today, too, are separate images, including sexual innuendo or nudity. And I just want to also point out that these images that we saw today do not appear to include any images that we have seen so far of President Trump.

Jeff Bennett:

The Department of Justice, as I said, is making clear that what they are releasing today is actually only part of what they have. More to come. However, what seems to be missing so far?

Liz Landers:

So we’re looking for more grand jury documents. Of course, this is the key and what many members of Congress have been calling for over the past few months and years.

We are also looking for more photos. There is also a list that some members of Congress say may contain some of these accused sex offenders who may have committed acts against these minors. There will likely be a list of these names. So these are the things we’re looking for.

Deputy District Attorney Todd Blanche said they would be released in the coming weeks. So we’ll be continuing this for weeks to come.

Jeff Bennett:

And Liz, as you well know, the Trump administration initially resisted releasing these documents. Remember how we got here.

Liz Landers:

Well, today’s release of the document comes after Congress passed and President Trump signed a law last month requiring the Department of Justice to do just that.

One of the lead authors of this law is Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna.

He joins me now to respond to what was released today.

Congressman, we just got these documents in the last two hours or so. In reading this, what is your reaction to what you see in these documents and what is not in this version today?

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA):

Well, today’s survivors were approaching with such anticipation. I am glad that they have already published the documents and adhered in this way to the law.

But I have to tell you that I was very disappointed by the partial nature of the release. One 119-page document that a federal judge wanted made public was completely redacted, and there is no explanation for the redaction.

We also have not yet seen the draft indictment and much of the witness interview memorandum that would explain, who were the rich and powerful men who assaulted these young girls or who were at parties covering up the abuse? So there should be a lot to come in the coming days.

Liz Landers:

Congressman, speaking about these rich and powerful men, Congressman Thomas Massie, who co-authored this bill, said yesterday that at least 20 men accused of sex crimes are in Epstein’s files with the FBI. He said that if this publication does not include some names, this is an indication that not all documents have been submitted.

Do you agree? Do you know when and if this list will appear?

Representative Ro Khanna:

Well, he’s right. And he’s right because he talked to the survivors. He spoke to the survivors’ attorney. They said there were other rich and powerful men who either engaged in sex trafficking, paid for sex with young women, were involved in the abuse of underage girls, or were present at parties where 16- to 15-year-olds were paraded and watched and did nothing.

The reality is that this is what we want to see come out. It’s not about is this a complete release, it’s about the quality of the release and what it hides? Why don’t they issue a draft indictment that contains or leads to some of this information? Why are witnesses not interviewed?

This is truly what survivors want and what we strive for.

Liz Landers:

The Department of Justice said in the letter sent to members of Congress like you that they have not published this in full. We know that at this point.

What can you do to force the Department of Justice to release all these documents? What tools do you have available?

Representative Ro Khanna:

Well, first of all, the Department of Justice, six months ago, Pam Bondi said they released everything. And now they are releasing more. So, they clearly weren’t being completely honest at that time.

We can have the survivors return to the hill to demand their release. This is what moved public opinion in the first place. That’s what got my bill passed in the House, the Senate, and the president to sign it. There are also, of course, punitive measures. Thomas Massie and I have discussed the possibility of impeaching the president and bringing him to criminal prosecution if people do not comply.

And people say, well, how is the Department of Justice going to prosecute its employees? But there is no statute of limitations that expires when we have a new administration. We can view them as an inherent disdain for Congress. So, there are several options, including lawsuits against the Department of Justice.

But my interest is not punitive against Pam Bondi, the Deputy Attorney General, or Trump. It’s to find justice. I want to see what we can do to produce more of these documents.

Liz Landers:

Congressman, did you speak with any of these survivors or their families today? How do they feel about this?

Representative Ro Khanna:

I spoke with some via email and text. I spoke with the survivor’s attorney.

They were very optimistic about this day. They finally felt seen and heard when Congress passed this bill. And I don’t know what the reaction of the survivors themselves is, but I will tell you, the survivors’ attorneys think there’s a lot more to be revealed, and maybe this is a preliminary step, but a lot of the basic information has yet to be revealed.

We expect this to be released in the coming weeks. What I hope will happen is that Pam Bondi or the Deputy Attorney General will stand up to the American public, explain what they are redacting and why, explain the timeline for what they will release, and be transparent in answering people’s questions.

Liz Landers:

Congressman, we only have a few seconds left.

But you and your Democratic colleagues on the House Oversight Committee have, I believe, selected and released some photos from Epstein’s estate. Is this fair to the survivors?

Representative Ro Khanna:

Well, I think they all need to get out.

Now, I’m not involved in revealing those. It is the classification of members Garcia. And he did a good job. But my recommendation is to release them all once the lawyers have reviewed them. I don’t think they should be chosen carefully.

Liz Landers:

Congressman Ro Khanna, thank you so much for joining us tonight.

Representative Ro Khanna:

Thank you.