The U.S. Justice Department urged a New York federal judge to deny Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie permission to pursue a special master to oversee public releases of Jeffrey Epstein records, saying the lawmakers lack standing. In a six-page filing, the DOJ argued the pair are not parties to U.S. v. Ghislaine Maxwell and cannot properly seek the extraordinary relief. The department said it continues to release documents and still has roughly 5.2 million pages to review, with about 400 lawyers assisting through late January.
DOJ Asks Judge To Deny Lawmakers' Request For Special Master Over Epstein Records
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has urged a federal judge in New York to reject a bid by two members of Congress seeking appointment of a special master to oversee the public release of records tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) asked U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer last week for permission to file a brief arguing that a special master and independent monitor should be appointed because, they say, the Justice Department has not fully complied with a statute requiring disclosure of Epstein-related records by Dec. 19.
In a six-page letter filed Friday, the Justice Department countered that Khanna and Massie are not parties to the underlying U.S. v. Ghislaine Maxwell matter and therefore lack standing to seek the extraordinary relief they request. The DOJ said the lawmakers' proposed role is inconsistent with that of an amicus curiae and with the Court's authority, and it urged the judge to deny their application.
"Representatives Khanna and Massie do not have standing, their stated objectives are inconsistent with the role of an amicus as well as the role of the Court, and, in any event, there is no authority permitting the Court to grant the Representatives the relief they improperly seek."
The letter was submitted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on behalf of the Justice Department.
Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.
The Justice Department said it has continued producing batches of documents tied to its Epstein investigations and that it still faces a substantial review effort. At the end of its most recent update, the DOJ reported roughly 5.2 million pages of records remaining to be reviewed and said it had mobilized about 400 lawyers from four department offices to assist with the process through late January.
(Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Franklin Paul)
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