Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were both indicted on federal sex trafficking charges stemming from Epstein's years of abuse of underage girls. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
His death, which cut short his prosecution, left behind questions of whether he used his expansive ties to facilitate illegal sexual encounters for some of his contacts.
On the campaign trail, Trump promised to put those questions to bed by increasing transparency about Epstein and his dealings, revealing whatever answers the DOJ had found in its unfinished prosecution. But months into the second Trump administration with no new information, Massie and other Republican lawmakers have grown frustrated.
In early November, the Epstein Files Transparency Act received the needed support to receive a vote in the House of Representatives after a group of lawmakers, led by Massie, joined Democrats to force it to the floor. It soon passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Trump on Nov. 19.
That law gave the DOJ one month to produce its files on Epstein and make them publicly searchable.
Although Trump signed the law, Massie remains concerned the information won’t see the light of day or that it will be only a partial release. However, he noted that unlike a subpoena, the Epstein transparency law carries more enforceability.
Massie noted that if members of the Trump DOJ don’t comply with the law, they may open themselves up to prosecution by future administrations.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., speaks to the media following a vote to stop a government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
"But if they refuse to produce these materials, then let's say whoever is the next president, their attorney general could bring charges because the statute of limitations will not have run out on non-compliance with this law. It's unique," Massie said.
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The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Massie’s characterization of the FD-302 forms.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/massie-sets-litmus-test-dojs-epstein-disclosures-deadline-slips