The Beat with Ari Melber Congress Presses DOJ on Epstein Files
Mar 18, 2026
Emily Bazelon, New York Times Magazine writer and legal commentator, brings sharp legal analysis. She breaks down congressional pressure over heavily redacted Epstein files. They probe DOJ explanations, withheld records, and questions about accountability. Conversation also touches on political fallout and related national security hearings.
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DOJ's Redactions Undercut The File Release
- The DOJ released millions of Epstein files but still heavily redacted key documents, raising legal and transparency questions.
- The 69-page DEA probe from 2015 was masked by blanket redactions despite a bipartisan law that limited such concealment.
Deputy AG's Defense Raises More Questions
- Deputy AG Todd Blanche publicly defended DOJ actions while acknowledging unanswered questions about Epstein's death and oversight gaps.
- Blanche insisted the department was prosecuting broadly, yet his comments sidestepped why some probes produced no additional indictments.
International Prosecutions Contradict DOJ Claims
- Emily Bazelon says the Bondi and Blanche explanations don't match international developments that found additional suspects.
- She highlights that other countries prosecuted people linked to Epstein, undermining DOJ claims there's 'nothing else to investigate.'