By Gloria Ogbonna
During a Monday appearance on MSNBC’s “Deadline,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) said momentum is building in Congress to potentially hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt over the Department of Justice’s handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Speaking with host Alicia Menendez, Goldman argued that the DOJ has failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law that requires the release of certain records connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender.
According to Goldman, lawmakers from both parties are increasingly questioning the department’s refusal to fully turn over the requested materials.
Menendez noted that Goldman and his colleagues have repeatedly accused the Justice Department of being out of compliance with the law.
She asked what options Congress still has to compel cooperation and whether there is enough support among lawmakers to pursue contempt proceedings against Bondi.
Goldman responded that the appetite for accountability is clearly increasing, pointing out that even some Republican members of Congress have begun voicing concerns about what he described as an “obvious cover-up.”
He criticized the DOJ’s reliance on “deliberative process privilege,” a legal principle that allows government agencies to withhold certain internal communications, arguing that the law specifically requires those types of documents to be released.
He emphasized that the situation is especially troubling because the transparency measure was signed into law by former President Donald Trump. Goldman argued that by signing the legislation, Trump effectively waived the privilege the DOJ is now using to justify redactions and withheld records.
“It’s one thing for Congress to request documents,” Goldman said, “but it’s entirely different when there is a law on the books, signed by the president himself, that explicitly requires their release.”
Goldman further expressed frustration over what he described as excessive redactions and a lack of explanation from the Justice Department regarding why certain information remains hidden.
He said the DOJ’s actions appear to contradict both the letter and the spirit of the law, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
As pressure continues to mount, Goldman suggested that contempt proceedings could become a real possibility if the DOJ does not change course.
He warned that failure to comply with the law could undermine public trust and set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
The dispute marks the latest escalation in an ongoing battle between Congress and the Justice Department over access to Epstein-related records, with lawmakers signaling they may use their full oversight powers to force compliance.
Aource Breitbart
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