Bondi criticised after saying all Epstein files have been released

February 15, 2026

The Department of Justice claims it has fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by releasing all documents in its possession related to Jeffrey Epstein, while withholding only materials like medical records, child abuse imagery, and files that could harm ongoing investigations. However, lawmakers who authored the legislation dispute this assertion, arguing that the DoJ is improperly invoking privileges to withhold internal deliberations about prosecution decisions. The controversy intensified when the DoJ's list of names from the files included deceased figures like Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley alongside actual convicted predators, without context about how each person was mentioned.

Who is affected

Jeffrey Epstein's victims and potential victims (whose identifying information appeared in some released files)
Individuals named in the files, including Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Bill Clinton, deceased musicians Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley, and Larry Nassar
Lawmakers including Representatives Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna, Senators Chuck Grassley, Dick Durbin, and Representatives Jim Jordan and Jamie Raskin
US Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche
The Department of Justice

What action is being taken

The DoJ is invoking deliberative process privilege to withhold certain documents
The BBC is contacting the Department of Justice for comment
Lawmakers are calling for the release of additional files, specifically internal memos about prosecution decisions

Why it matters

This matters because there are questions about whether the Department of Justice is fully complying with congressional transparency requirements regarding its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The incomplete or unclear nature of the document release raises concerns about potential protection of individuals involved in crimes, accountability for prosecutorial decisions not to charge Epstein associates, and whether political sensitivity is influencing what information is being disclosed to the public about a high-profile sex trafficking case.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC