Lawmakers are seeking an independent “special master” to oversee the release of Jeffrey Epstein files by the Trump administration. The goal is to ensure all documents are made public after the government missed the legal deadline.
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) asked a federal judge to appoint a third-party monitor. The Justice Department was required to release all Epstein-related documents by December 19, 2025, but so far has only released a small portion.
The special master would supervise the process and report to the court if documents are withheld or redacted improperly. This could pressure the administration to release materials faster.
So far, the DOJ has released just 12,285 files, less than 1% of the documents it possesses. The administration says it still has over 2 million files to review, though some may be duplicates. Critics say the number could be exaggerated to delay disclosure.
The judge could name the special master as soon as next week. Both lawmakers argue that without independent oversight, the full files may never be made public.
A special master is a court-appointed third party who oversees specific tasks. In 2022, a special master reviewed documents seized from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, slowing investigations into classified materials.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act does not specify penalties if the DOJ fails to release documents. However, future administrations or congressional action could force compliance.
The Epstein case continues to attract attention due to the high-profile figures linked to the financier. Despite partial releases, many key documents remain unavailable, keeping public interest high.
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