January 21, 2026
A federal judge just sided with the Trump administration when it comes to the Epstein files. So –no – the judge will not be appointing a special master to force the department of justice to comply with the Epstein transparency act and release the files.
The Department of Justice is currently breaking that law. DOJ is two months and two days late in releasing the Epstein files. And I’ve been reporting that Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna – the lawmakers who wrote that law – intervened in an existing federal case and asked this federal judge in New York to appoint a special master. The congressman said the DOJ is dragging its feet and the special master would force them to release the files faster. The lawmakers also told the court the DOJ cannot be trusted to comply with the redaction part law.
Well today – the judge said his court is the wrong venue to bring this matter. The judge says “this federal criminal case does not give the court jurisdiction over – or authority to supervise – DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein files transparency act.” The judge also said the way Massie and Khanna filed their request was legally impermissible.
So now what? Well – now – the DOJ can keep doing what it’s been doing. Not releasing the files. Meanwhile the House Oversight committee is voted today to hold former President Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress for not complying with a congressional subpoena. They also voted to hold former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt for not complying. And not surprisingly – this Republican controlled Oversight committee rejected an amendment to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt because she is not complying with the Epstein transparency act.
So now the Clinton contempt charges will still have to be voted on by the whole House. There is no date set for that vote. If and when that contempt is approved then the Department of Justice will have to decide whether to prosecute.
Read the judge’s ruling here.
Watch the House Oversight Committee’s hearing here.
