Kinshasa: US Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie announced plans to draft inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing her of withholding investigation files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Massie emphasized the need for swift action, stating that inherent contempt would expedite justice for victims by bypassing the courts.

According to Anadolu Agency, Khanna highlighted that inherent contempt requires only House approval and detailed efforts to build bipartisan support. He suggested imposing daily fines on Bondi until the documents are released, accusing her of legal violations. Khanna also mentioned that a congressional committee should determine the necessity of the redactions. Inherent contempt empowers Congress to directly penalize those obstructing investigations or ignoring subpoenas.

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the ongoing review of Epstein-related documents amid criticism. Blanche clarified that the review aims to protect victims, denying allegations of a cover-up involving President Donald Trump. He explained that certain documents were withheld at the request of victim advocacy groups, noting that unredacted images of women would be reconsidered for release after further review.

The Justice Department recently released thousands of records related to the Epstein investigation, complying with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This Act mandates the disclosure of all documents connected to the investigation. Despite this, Blanche announced a partial release, involving several hundred thousand records, on the final day permitted by the Act. Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.