Good afternoon. As promised, here is a critical update on the Epstein files—one that raises serious and deeply troubling questions about the Department of Justice and its handling of survivor privacy, accountability, and transparency.
At the same time, Congressman Thomas Massie has confirmed that work is actively underway to draft inherent contempt proceedings against Pam Bondi, a step that does not require Senate authorization to move forward.
I am working around the clock to make sure this story does not die, even as powerful interests would rather see it buried. The public deserves the truth, and I intend to keep pushing until it comes out. Subscribe to support this work and help keep this work alive.
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Earlier today, I spoke with Mary Fitilchyan and Yasmine Meyer, two attorneys who represent several Epstein survivors, to get their reaction to the Department of Justice’s recent release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Their message was unequivocal. The release, as it stands, is unacceptable to most survivors and remains incomplete. Far from delivering transparency, it has deepened concerns that the government has failed to meet even the most basic obligations to protect victims.
Those concerns were underscored overnight when I received a letter from a Jane Doe Epstein survivor who wrote directly to the Department of Justice. In her letter, she alleges that the DOJ failed to redact her name in the publicly released files. Such a failure would constitute a grave violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. See the letter below:
I have independently confirmed that this survivor’s name does, in fact, appear in the publicly released documents, completely unredacted. I am deliberately withholding and redacting her name here to protect her privacy. She has never publicly come forward as a survivor. However, records show that she reported Jeffrey Epstein to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2009. That means both the DOJ and the FBI would have known she was a survivor, yet her identity was still exposed in the release.
This is not a minor clerical error. It is a fundamental breach of trust. Survivors were promised care, caution, and respect. Instead, at least one survivor has been placed at risk by the very institutions tasked with protecting her.
As these revelations surfaced, Todd Blanche, the Deputy Attorney General, appeared on Meet the Press and acknowledged that the Department of Justice had taken down several images and files over the past 24 hours that were improperly posted late Friday night.
In an exchange with Kristen Welker, Blanche addressed the removal of a photo showing a desk drawer containing photographs of women and Donald Trump.
Welker asked why the photo was taken down. Blanche responded that the image included photographs of women and that, after its release, concerns were raised about those individuals. When pressed on whether one or more of those women was an Epstein victim, Blanche said that was not what he was saying.
A lot of people have asked what will happen now that the DOJ has obstructed and violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Congressman Thomas Massie has confirmed he is drafting inherent contempt proceedings against Pam Bondi. These proceedings do not require Senate support:
Meanwhile, Todd Blanche was also asked about growing calls from lawmakers for investigations into the Justice Department, including potential impeachment proceedings, contempt citations, or even criminal referrals for obstruction of justice. His response was dismissive. He said he did not take the threats seriously and added, “Bring it on.” He argued that well-settled law makes clear that redacting sensitive information takes precedence over statutory deadlines.
Blanche further addressed the controversial transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security facility. When Welker asked why Maxwell was moved just days after Blanche interviewed her, he initially characterized it as a Bureau of Prisons security issue that he would not discuss. When asked directly whether he had anything to do with the decision, Blanche said that he is responsible for the Bureau of Prisons and that every decision they make ultimately lands on his desk.
Outside the administration, criticism is intensifying. World Without Exploitation, an organization that works closely with survivors of sexual exploitation, has issued a blistering condemnation of the Trump Administration’s handling of the Epstein file release. The group argues that the process has retraumatized survivors and failed to center their safety and dignity.
At its core, this moment is not about political brinkmanship or media appearances. It is about whether the federal government can be trusted to release sensitive information without exposing victims to further harm. For at least one survivor, that trust has already been broken.