Justice Department says members of Congress can’t intervene in release of Epstein files
January 16, 2026
Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor said Friday that a judge lacks the authority to appoint a neutral expert to oversee the public release of documents in the sex trafficking probe of financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer was told in a letter signed by Jay Clayton that he must reject a request made earlier this month by the congressional cosponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act to appoint a neutral expert. The request was made earlier this month by the congressional cosponsors of legislation that forced the release of materials last month.