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Former President Donald Trump's Department of Justice encountered a storm of threats of legal action and cross-party condemnation recently after its heavily censored and incomplete disclosure of files concerning the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Congressional Leaders Denounce Seeming Breach of Disclosure Act

Key co-sponsors of the landmark disclosure law accused the department of non-compliance with federal requirements. Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, stated that the document dump "does not comply with our Epstein Transparency Act."

"It is an inadequate disclosure, with excessive censored sections. We are considering all options," he said.

Potential actions reportedly encompass possible impeachment proceedings of justice department officials or finding them in contempt of Congress. Khanna also floated the idea of "recommending criminal charges against those who are impeding the investigation."

Legislative Partner Echoes Forceful Criticism

Congressman Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who helped write the legislation, agreed, stating that the disclosure "grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the wording of the statute."

He further warned that a subsequent administration could potentially prosecute the current AG and other officials for this failure, as the law remains in force like a temporary subpoena.

DOJ Defends Disclosure Timeline Amid Mounting Scrutiny

The law mandated the virtually full release of all investigative files by December 19th. While it permits redactions to protect active probes, national security, or survivors' names, it in all other cases demands full transparency.

Nevertheless, the number two official Todd Blanche publicly admitted the DOJ would not fulfill this obligation in full. Blanche explained that "several hundred thousand" documents would be released initially, with additional files to come over the subsequent fortnight.

"Our goal is to ensure that when we release the materials, we are protecting every single survivor," Blanche said.

Bipartisan Anger Over Alleged "Cover-Up"

The response from Congress was swift and severe. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez charged the administration of a blatant "cover-up."

"The obstruction is plain for all to see. This situation is not concluded. Everyone involved will have to be held accountable," she declared. Additionally, she demanded the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Congressman Robert Garcia, a Democratic Party leader, reinforced these views, asserting the DOJ was "breaking the law."

"This does not constitute open government. This is just more coverup by the President and the Attorney General," he argued. "What is being concealed? The people deserves the full truth."

Senate Leaders Promise Consequences

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the release breached both the "spirit of transparency and the legal text itself."

"Senate Democrats are assessing to decide which steps must be taken to make the administration accountable," Schumer added. "We will pursue to make sure the truth comes out."

DOJ Pushes Back with Defense

Amid the criticism, the Justice Department stood by its actions on platforms like X. An official profile pointed to the inclusion of photos featuring Bill Clinton as evidence of its dedication to transparency.

"For clarity: Zero high-profile individuals were redacted from today's released Epstein files. Every mention to PEPs were disclosed in full," the statement said.

The department insisted it was operating in compliance with the law, even as lawmaker demands for a complete and uncensored document dump continue to mount.