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Massie drafting 'inherent contempt' charge against Bondi over Epstein file release

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks outside the House chamber before the final votes of the week, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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AP
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks outside the House chamber before the final votes of the week, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Kentucky congressman who has been at the forefront of the push for a full release of materials related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein says the Department of Justice has not complied with the spirit or the letter of the law.

The partial release of heavily-redacted files has drawn criticism from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who says he'll be satisfied "when the survivors are satisfied."

The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)

And so far, he tells CBS, the documents made public haven't been sufficient. And he's not encouraged by the communications his chamber has received from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche.

"And here's why we shouldn't be optimistic that Blanche or Bondi are going to release these things. They sent a six-page memo to Congress (and) cited pre-existing laws as reasons that they weren't going to follow our law," he said.

Massie said he, and his Democratic co-sponsor on the petition that led to passage of the law, are not waiting for the full release to begin crafting their response.

"The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, and that doesn't require going through the courts," Massie said. "(Rep.) Ro Khanna and I are talking about and drafting that right now."

According to Khanna, the measure would fine Bondi for every day that she’s not releasing the materials.

The DOJ maintains it is complying with the law by releasing "hundreds of thousands" of documents.