February 19, 2026
Dear Mr. Neece,
Thank you for contacting me about the Epstein files. I appreciate hearing from you, and I am fully committed to seeing that the files get released and that the survivors get justice.
For decades, Epstein survivors fought to be heard and believed about the extent of abuse they endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and the powerful people who used their connections to keep that abuse buried. The survivors reported their assaults to federal and local authorities as far back as 1996 and 2005, respectively, only to see Epstein avoid investigations and later get a sweetheart deal after admitting guilt to a lesser charge.
After a groundbreaking series in the Miami Herald by Julie K. Brown in 2018, the beginning for the long-awaited slow road to justice began for survivors. Epstein was arrested in 2019 only to die in custody. His death left survivors without many of the answers they had fought for, and they continued pressing for accountability and transparency even as the Trump administration obstructed efforts to release the investigative record.
Finally last year, Congress began to act.
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) worked around House leadership using the discharge petition process to force a vote on the full release of the Epstein files. I signed that discharge petition, and once enough signatures were collected to force a floor vote, I voted in support of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405/P.L. 119-38). This law ordered the federal government to release FBI files and records from Florida and New York investigations; release files related to investigation documents about Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and their associates; release, not redact, government or politically exposed people; and, most importantly, protect the victims as part of these releases.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) then missed the deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and, when it finally acted, released only 3.5 million of the six million files in their possession. Many were heavily redacted, appearing to shield unnamed perpetrators while exposing the names and personal information of victims in violation of the law. That’s why I’m demanding the DOJ’s Inspector General investigate this failure and ensure the Trump administration fully complies with the law.
Lawmakers can now review unredacted files in DOJ "reading rooms," and I recently went there to examine them myself. The process is time-consuming and there is no cooperation from the DOJ on how to navigate the millions of records. In the files I reviewed, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell appeared more preoccupied with protecting their lavish lifestyles than acknowledging the pain they inflicted on survivors. What I read should unsettle us all, and DOJ’s refusal to provide full transparency underscores the need for full congressional oversight and access to these records.
The survivors and the American people deserve the truth about what has happened here. I will keep pushing to ensure the administration releases everything without delay or redaction of the powerful people they have been working to protect. I will also keep fighting for the resources law enforcement needs to pursue these cases.
Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue.
Sincerely,
Val T. Hoyle
Member of Congress
No comments:
Post a Comment