Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all Department of Justice records related to Jeffrey Epstein, citing bipartisan demands for transparency following a controversial DOJ memo that dismissed public concerns surrounding Epstein’s death and potential ties to powerful third parties.
The memo, released earlier this year, stated there was no evidence of blackmail, no client list implicating others, and reaffirmed the claim that Epstein’s death in federal custody was a suicide. The findings sparked renewed outcry from members of both parties and from the public, who continue to question the thoroughness of the investigation and the secrecy surrounding Epstein’s connections.
In a letter dated Tuesday, Durbin and Van Hollen called on Bondi to submit a full report on the Epstein files by August 16, 2025. They emphasized the Senate Appropriations Committee had already voted unanimously to retain and report on the files, even though the legislative process is still ongoing.
“The case of Jeffrey Epstein is a deeply disturbing one, with horrifying sexual abuse of over 1,000 young women and girls,” the senators wrote. They noted that from the 2008 plea deal in Florida to Epstein’s death in 2019, victims have been denied justice and transparency. They insisted that full public disclosure is necessary to restore confidence in the integrity of the justice system.
Van Hollen introduced an amendment last week through the Senate subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, requiring the Department of Justice to report on all Epstein-related materials. Though the amendment has not yet been signed into law, the senators urged Bondi to comply with the directive immediately.
The letter signals growing pressure from lawmakers for the DOJ to abandon secrecy in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in modern history. If the department fails to act voluntarily, Congress may take further steps to mandate disclosure through upcoming legislation.
