Two prominent Democratic senators have declared they will block all pending civilian nominations in the US Senate, accusing the Trump administration of a profound lack of transparency regarding the imminent release of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Senators Take a Stand for Justice
Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico issued a joint statement on Tuesday, asserting that there can be no business as usual until justice is delivered for the victims of Epstein's horrific crimes. The lawmakers, who both sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, are taking this drastic step in response to what they call the administration's failure to provide a legally mandated briefing.
The controversy stems from a request made earlier this month. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Merkley and Luján, wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi seeking a briefing and status update on the Justice Department's efforts to comply with the Act. They specifically wanted to understand any new evidence or procedural hurdles that could impact the 19 December deadline for releasing the files.
A Deadline Ignored and a Law in Jeopardy
According to the senators, that crucial briefing never materialised. The White House and the Department of Justice have not publicly commented on the allegations. Merkley and Luján stated, The Trump administration’s lack of transparency about its plans to release the Epstein files signals it is gearing up to disregard the law we led the fight in the Senate to pass.
They emphasised that the Act, which overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Congress in mid-November, is not optional. It requires the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and materials related to the investigation and prosecution of Epstein by the statutory deadline. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Consequences and a Clear Ultimatum
The senators' blockade means that any outstanding civilian nominations will not be carried over into the new year by the Senate. Until the administration reverses course and provides a commonsense briefing, which lawmakers from both parties requested, we are blocking the Senate, their statement read.
This move underscores the escalating tension between Congress and the executive branch over accountability and transparency in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent memory. The senators concluded that without full transparency and accountability, the principle of equal justice under the law is undermined.
