DOJ Urges Judge to Block Lawmakers’ Bid for Special Master in Jeffrey Epstein Records Case

The U.S. Justice Department has formally asked a New York federal judge to reject a request by two bipartisan lawmakers seeking court oversight of the public release of records related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The request centers on whether an independent special master should be appointed to monitor the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related documents.

Since December, the Department of Justice has been releasing large volumes of records tied to its investigations into Epstein and his associates. However, U.S. Representatives Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, have criticized what they describe as an excessively slow and incomplete disclosure process. They argue that the DOJ has failed to fully comply with a federal law requiring the release of all Epstein-related records by December 19.

Last week, Khanna and Massie asked U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer to allow them to file an amicus brief, or “friend of the court” submission. Their proposed filing would urge the court to appoint a special master and independent monitor to oversee the release of the remaining documents, citing the public interest and transparency concerns surrounding the Epstein case.

In response, the Justice Department pushed back strongly. In a six-page letter filed Friday with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that the lawmakers lack legal standing. The DOJ maintained that Khanna and Massie are not parties to U.S. v. Ghislaine Maxwell and therefore have no right to intervene in the case. The letter, signed by Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated that the lawmakers’ objectives are inconsistent with the role of an amicus and that the court lacks authority to grant the relief they seek.

Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime Epstein associate, is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The DOJ has said that as of late 2025, approximately 5.2 million pages of Epstein-related records remain under review. The department estimates it needs around 400 lawyers from multiple offices to complete the review process, which is expected to continue through late January.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between lawmakers and the Justice Department over transparency, accountability, and the handling of one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent U.S. history.