Lawmakers threaten legal action against Bondi, DOJ over partial release of Epstein files

3:32Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer addresses the media after Senate votes on rival healthcare proposals at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, December 11, 2025. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer presented a bill on Monday aimed at instructing the Senate to take legal steps to hold the Justice Department responsible for not disclosing all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the Friday deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Schumer’s declaration followed Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie announcing on Sunday their pursuit of “inherent contempt” charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for not adhering to the law requiring the full release of Epstein files.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer addresses the media after Senate votes on rival healthcare proposals at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, December 11, 2025.Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Should this initiative succeed, it may result in Bondi’s arrest — though the duo plans to introduce the resolution as “privileged” once the House reconvenes in January, compelling a vote within two legislative days on the House floor, and it remains uncertain whether this initiative would succeed during the vote.

"The legislation Congress enacted is unmistakably clear: fully disclose the Epstein files so Americans can uncover the truth," Schumer stated in a press release. "Instead, the Trump Department of Justice released redacted information and withheld evidence — which violates the law. Today, I am putting forward a resolution to compel the Senate to pursue legal action and require this administration to comply."

The DOJ was under a Friday deadline set by Congress and signed into law by the president to divulge a substantial collection of records amassed during the government investigations of the sex offender, who passed away in jail in 2019.

The Justice Department released thousands of documents — including investigative papers, grand jury testimonies, and photographs taken by Epstein and his associates — but stated it would be unable to fully disclose all files by the deadline. The law allows for exceptions to protect victims and other situations, but critics argue that the DOJ is not adhering to the letter and the spirit of the law.

Schumer labeled the DOJ’s partial release on Friday as a "blatant cover-up."

"Pam Bondi and [Deputy Attorney General] Todd Blanche are protecting Donald Trump from facing consequences, and the Senate has an obligation to respond," Schumer remarked.

Schumer is anticipated to push for consideration of this bill on the Senate floor in January when the Senate resumes its duties after the holiday recess. The bill would likely require unanimous consent to be passed.

It is uncertain if it would garner that support, although the Senate unanimously passed the Epstein Transparency Act, which mandated the release of the Epstein documents.

On Sunday, Khanna and Massie, the co-sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, declared their intention to initiate inherent contempt proceedings.

Rep. Thomas Massie speaks alongside Rep. Ro Khanna during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol, November 18, 2025 in Washington.Heather Diehl/Getty Images

The inherent contempt authority allows Congress to use its constitutional powers to detain and imprison a “contemnor” — an individual held in contempt — until they comply with congressional requests such as a subpoena or financial penalty, according to the Congressional Research Service.

This power directs the Sergeant at Arms to apprehend the person who ignores a subpoena or penalty; however, once the individual complies with the subpoena, they are released.

Importantly, the resolution would not necessitate passage in

Sourse: abcnews.go.com