Congress might just pull the purse strings on the Department of Justice over a slow-motion release of the Jeffrey Epstein files that’s got lawmakers steaming.
Breitbart reported that on Sunday, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) appeared on MS NOW’s “The Weekend” to vent frustrations shared by many on the House Judiciary Committee about the Justice Department’s delays and heavy redactions in the Epstein document release, notably shielding former President Donald Trump’s name.
Swalwell didn’t hold back when host Laura Barron-Lopez pressed him on whether accountability was on the table for these delays.
“They’ve been slow walking the release of the documents that they have had,” Barron-Lopez said, asking if the committee might hold the president, the Justice Department, or Attorney General Pam Bondi responsible.
Isn’t that the question of the hour? If the Justice Department thinks it can play hide-and-seek with files tied to such a notorious scandal, they might be in for a surprise from a bipartisan committee that’s fed up.
Swalwell noted that every member of the House Judiciary Committee, across party lines, voted for the immediate release of these documents—supposedly “yesterday,” in his words.
“They have not done that yet,” Swalwell declared, his irritation clear as he outlined potential next steps.
“So here’s what we can do. We can restrict funding to the Department of Justice,” he said, throwing out a financial warning that could make bureaucrats nervous.
Beyond budget cuts, Swalwell floated the idea of dragging officials into public hearings or invoking inherent contempt—a clear signal Congress isn’t here to mess around.
Adding to the frustration, Attorney General Pam Bondi referenced these files eight months ago but somehow wasn’t aware of them at the time. One has to wonder if the DOJ’s left hand knows what the right is up to.
Currently, DOJ lawyers and FBI agents are sifting through piles of documents, carefully redacting names—especially Trump’s—from the Epstein records. While privacy concerns are valid, this level of censorship has lawmakers on both sides questioning whose agenda is being protected.
It’s no surprise the committee is riled up; these files were expected in their possession already, not next week or next month, but right now.
The Epstein saga has long eroded public trust, with victims and citizens deserving clarity on who enabled such horrific crimes.
Swalwell’s call for hearings might force answers from a reluctant Justice Department, though skeptics could argue it risks becoming just another political show.
Still, the threat of funding cuts isn’t idle chatter—it’s a tool Congress has wielded before when agencies get too cozy with stonewalling. If the DOJ doesn’t want its budget trimmed, it might want to crank up the photocopier and lighten up on the redactions.
