MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC — Today, Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Thomas Massie (KY-04), the leaders of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, sent a letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, requesting the appointment of a Special Master to compel the Department of Justice to release the full Epstein files as required under Rep. Khanna and Rep. Massie’s law.

“The Department of Justice is openly defying the law by refusing to release the full Epstein files. Millions of files are being kept from the public,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “The DOJ has failed to make the necessary redactions to protect survivors while removing records after publication without any explanation. That is why we are requesting the appointment of a Special Master to oversee the release of the files and ensure that the DOJ is following the law.” 

“Attorney General Pam Bondi is egregiously violating the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “Under her leadership, the Department of Justice is missing statutory disclosure deadlines, making excessive redactions, and illegally withholding the Department’s internal communications. Because the Department of Justice has shown it cannot be trusted with making the disclosures required by law, a Special Master should be appointed to oversee the release of the Epstein files.” 

See the full letter below or click here.  

Dear Judge Engelmayer:

We write jointly as Members of the United States House of Representatives who sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Public Law 119-38 and as amici curiae in the above-caption manner. We respectfully request permission to file this brief as amici curiae given our unique expertise as the leads of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. We are writing to suggest the appointment of a Special Master and Independent Monitor to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make mandatory production under the Act.

As the leads of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, we have urgent and grave concerns about DOJ’s failure to comply with the Act as well as the Department’s violations of this Court’s order.

On December 19, 2025, the Department of Justice released only a portion of responsive materials. That release, however, did not comply with the statute as written. The Department failed to meet the Act’s requirements in multiple respects, including missing the statutory deadline, asserting common-law privileges that the Act does not permit, and applying extensive redactions that appear inconsistent with the Act’s expressed prohibition on withholding or redacting records to protect politically exposed persons.

Several federal courts, including this District, have already recognized that the Act’s disclosure mandate is clear and that its specific statutory language supersedes pre-existing secrecy rules and generalized privilege doctrines. Nonetheless, the Department has continued to rely on arguments that courts have rejected, including the claim that Congress did not “speak clearly” enough to require disclosure of unclassified investigative and internal materials, despite Section 2(a)’s unequivocal language.

Compliance concerns have been further heightened by the Department’s handling of records after their release. Independent investigators identified numerous files that were publicly released on December 19, 2025, and later removed, including file EFTA00000468. While removal may have been undertaken to protect victims depicted in the material, an objective that is both appropriate and required, the Department’s own statements underscore that this issue is more significant than DOJ has suggested.

DOJ has acknowledged that, despite tens of thousands of manual redactions and quality control checks, information that victims believe should have been redacted was nonetheless posted publicly. DOJ also represented to the Court that it interprets the Act to require publication of grand jury and discovery materials unless a statutory basis for withholding applies, with victim privacy protected through appropriate redactions rather than categorical withholding. Consistent with those representations, and with the Court’s order directing DOJ to certify that victim-identifying information is being protected, the Act allows narrowly tailored and consistently applied redactions, not the wholesale removal of records after release or assertions of privilege inconsistent with the Act. Whether the Department’s actions complied with those limits is a fact-specific question that would benefit from neutral, independent review.

We have reviewed the DOJ’s most recent submission to this Court on January 5, 2026, Dkt. 826, where the DOJ states that it has only produced “approximately 12,285 documents (compromising approximately 125,575 pages).” The DOJ claims that there is still “more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act in various phases of review.” Other reports suggest that the DOJ may be reviewing more than 5 million pages. Because these figures are self-reported and internally inconsistent with prior representations, there is reasonable suspicion that the DOJ has overstated the scope of responsive materials, thereby portraying compliance as unmanageable and effectively delaying disclosure. 

The conduct by the DOJ is not only a flagrant violation of the mandatory disclosure obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but as this Court has recognized in its previous rulings, the behavior by the DOJ has caused serious trauma to survivors. 

In addition, the DOJ has not complied with Section 3 of the Act, which requires the Attorney General, within fifteen days of the deadline for release, to submit a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees identifying the categories of records released and withheld and summarizing all redactions and their legal bases. To date, no such report has been provided. Without it, there is no authoritative accounting of what records exist, what has been withheld, or why, making effective oversight and judicial review far more difficult.

Put simply, the DOJ cannot be trusted with making mandatory disclosures under the Act.

While we believe that criminal violations have taken place and must be addressed, the most urgent need now is for the DOJ to produce all the documents and electronically stored information required by the Act. In its November 26, 2025, letter (Dkt.813), the DOJ represented to this Court the categories of documents in its possession, much of which has not been produced.

Thus, in our capacity as amici curiae, we suggest pursuant to its inherent authority and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53, this Court appoint Special Master and/or Independent Monitor for the purpose of ensuring all the documents and electronically stored information are immediately made public to be in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.  We also suggest the Independent Monitor be given authority to notify and prepare reports to this Court about the true nature and extent of the document production and if improper redactions or other improper conduct is taking place.  We also suggest this Court compel testimony from the person or persons most knowledgeable from the DOJ SDNY office about the production that has been made, the pending productions, and the representations that have previously been made to this Court.

Absent an independent process, as outlined above, we do not believe the DOJ will produce the records that are required by the Act and what it has represented to this Court. 

We appreciate the Court’s attention to this letter. We can make ourselves available to the Court at a future hearing or participate in a briefing on the need for a Special Master or Independent Monitor or any topic this court deems helpful for the full and fair administration of justice.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, issued the following statement expressing concern following the Democrats’ efforts to bring forward an irresponsible and costly extension of the COVID-era Obamacare subsidy program without proper guardrails.

“Americans deserve affordable health care, but extending a Democrat-led three-year COVID-era Obamacare subsidy program with zero guardrails will not make healthcare more affordable; it will make it costlier.

This approach amounts to a temporary band-aid that ignores the underlying problems in the system. The subsidies will expire again in three years, fraud will continue unchecked, and taxpayers will be left footing the bill, about $80.5 billion over the next ten years. 

The COVID-era subsidies created significant opportunities for massive waste, fraud, and abuse. A GAO report found that 58,000 enrollees matched Social Security death records, with 7,000 of them reported dead before enrollment began. In other words, that equates to $94 million in taxpayer money sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased people. Additionally, some 6.4 million enrollees were improperly enrolled in 2025, costing $27 billion this year alone. This is just one of numerous examples of wasteful spending.

Americans deserve real reforms that lower costs, expand choices, and allow families to see the doctors they choose at a price they can afford. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in delivering real, responsible, lasting solutions.” 

Last December, Díaz-Balart voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

Here’s What the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act Does:

• Lowers monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs for everyone by 11%
• It keeps insurance premiums from spiking and helps lower deductibles and copays by implementing cost-sharing reduction payments
• Why it matters: Without this, insurers pass the costs directly to you, the taxpayer, by increasing premiums

 

• Exposes hidden costs from prescription drug middlemen
• It forces drug middlemen to be honest about where your money is going.
• What’s the problem now? Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) negotiate drug prices behind closed doors and keep rebates for themselves – often raising prices for patients and employers. They buy the drug at the real price, sell it at a higher price, and keep the difference.
• What this bill does:
• Requires PBMs to show employers exactly how much drugs cost
• Shows where rebates or reimbursements go
• Exposes hidden markups
• Why it matters? More transparency = lower drug prices and lower premiums

 

• Helps small businesses and self-employed/independent workers to get cheaper insurance
• It lets small businesses and self-employed workers band together to buy insurance like big companies do.
• Why that helps: Big companies get cheaper rates because they buy insurance in bulk.
• This bill lets small businesses, gig workers, and independent contractors do the same thing. Gig workers are most affected by expiration (Uber drivers, photographers, etc.)
• Result: more affordable plans, more doctors to choose from, better coverage.

 

• Lets Americans choose the health plan that works best for them
• Instead of your boss picking one plan, you get the money and choose your own plan.
• How it works:
• Employers give workers tax-free money
• Workers use it to buy the plan they want
• You can keep your plan if you change jobs
• Why it matters: more freedom, more control, and coverage that fits your life – not your employer’s.

 

• Protects small businesses from excessive red tape
• It stops unnecessary regulations that drive up costs for small businesses
• What that means:
• Small businesses can protect themselves from massive medical claims
• They can offer health benefits without drowning in paperwork
• Insurance stays affordable instead of being regulated out of reach
• Why it matters:
• When small businesses can afford coverage, more workers get insured, and small businesses can compete

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement:

“I voted YES to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and stop health care premiums from skyrocketing for Illinois families. After deliberate inaction from the Republican-controlled Congress, ACA tax credits were allowed to expire at the beginning of this year. Today’s vote was Congress’ last opportunity to pass a clean, three-year extension and reverse these premium increases.

“Republican cuts to the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid impact everyone, even those who don’t receive health care coverage from those programs. When people lose coverage and go uninsured, they’re more likely to show up to the emergency room. This raises rates for everyone.

“For months, my Democratic colleagues and I have been fighting to extend tax credits, fix our broken health care system, and make life more affordable for people in Illinois. Despite efforts by President Trump and Republican leadership to block action and allow premiums to double or even triple, a few House Republicans joined us to force a vote and pass this bill. It is now up to the Senate to get this legislation to the President’s desk.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Memphis Police, Shelby County District Attorney and Youth Violence prevention projects

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today addressed the shooting death of a 37-year-old U.S. citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Wednesday in Minneapolis at a committee markup. 

In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“What happened in Minneapolis strikes at the heart of this country – strikes freedom, the opportunity to participate in the demonstrations. I guess the way the car was parked was a demonstration of disapproval of what the government was doing…What happened to that woman was unjustified. I didn’t say it was murder; that’s for a jury to decide…

“For Kristi Noem to say it was domestic terrorism…is just false. The president said it was terrorism and that the officer had been hit by the car and was in the hospital. That was lying to the American public…

“What this committee needs to look at, Mr. Chairman, is how these people are trained, what qualifications they have…

“They’re arresting people who are here in the country illegally, which is normally a civil offense and a misdemeanor. That’s who they’re stopping. Over 90 percent of their stops are people who don’t have a criminal record whatsoever. The people of Minneapolis don’t want that. The people of Memphis don’t want that. The people throughout this country think it’s wrong…Get the worst of the worst but don’t tell us you’re getting the worst of the worst when that’s hardly anybody you’re getting.”

Congressman Cohen also expressed his concern that ICE employment recruitment advertising suggests it is seeking local law enforcement officers who feel they are “handcuffed” buy legal restrictions at their agencies with the inference that, as ICE agents, those regulations would be removed.

See Congressman Cohen’s entire remarks here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

House Democrats have taken action and now it’s up to Senate Republicans to join Democrats in sending this legislation to President Trump’s desk to lower health care costs 
Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) released the following statement on his vote in support of a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits to lower health care costs after Republicans let these subsidies expire at the end of 2025:  
“After months of sounding the alarm on the health care crisis in this country, House Democrats successfully forced a vote on legislation to reduce health insurance costs for hardworking people.
“By restoring and extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits for three more years, health care premiums will remain affordable for more than 1.7 million Californians and millions of Americans across the country. At a time when Americans are already facing an affordability crisis thanks to Donald Trump and Republican economic policies, we need to be doing everything in our power to cut costs across the board.
“Now, we have a real path forward in Congress to restore this vital lifeline. I urge Senate Republicans to join us in putting the hardworking American families we represent first. The American people can’t afford any more delays.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on the retirement of Congressman Steny Hoyer.

“Congressman Steny Hoyer’s dedication to Congress as an institution and to our democracy as a force for good is unparalleled. Throughout his remarkable career, he has been a tireless advocate for Marylanders and a trusted, generous colleague to so many of us. At his core, Congressman Hoyer has always been driven by a commitment to making our country safer, healthier, and more just. His decades of public service are defined by consequential legislative achievements that have tangibly improved the lives of countless Americans. Many Americans have benefited from his work, including his role in advancing the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark law that ensured fuller participation in American life for people with disabilities. At home, he was an unwavering champion for Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are cleaner and healthier because of his leadership and persistence. In his various roles in House Democratic Leadership, including as Majority Leader, Congressman Hoyer served as a mentor and friend to generations of lawmakers, myself included. We are profoundly grateful for his extraordinary service to Maryland and to the nation. He will be deeply missed in the halls of Congress.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In the aftermath of the Trump administration’s military strike against Venezuela, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Thomas Massie (R-KY); and Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, today reintroduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to block further U.S. hostilities within or against Venezuela absent explicit authorization from Congress.

A nearly identical resolution introduced by McGovern, Massie and Castro forced a floor debate on December 17th, 2025 and failed by just two votes, with a final tally of 211-213.

Their reintroduction follows the White House admitting “it’s a war”in Venezuela, claiming that America is going to “run the country,” and refusing to rule out more U.S. troops in the country—alarming signals that America is being dragged toward a dangerous, expensive, and open-ended quagmire without constitutional authority or congressional oversight.

“Donald Trump should be focused on America, not Venezuela,” said Congressman McGovern. “Instead, he is bragging that ‘it’s a war,’ claiming the United States is ‘running the country,’ and leaving the door wide open to more troops and strikes—all without congressional authorization. These reckless actions are unconstitutional and illegal, and Congress has a responsibility to stop this before it spirals into another disastrous and costly quagmire. There’s no question Maduro is a tyrant who stole power—but the Venezuelan people deserve to decide their own future, and the American people deserve a Congress that debates and votes before more troops are put in harm’s way.”

“This is not about drugs; this is about oil and regime change. It’s an insult to the intelligence of Americans to frame it as an arrest by the DOJ. Our troops are not pawns to be risked for the profits of oil companies and investment bankers,” said Congressman Massie.

“The president has dragged the country into an illegal war with Venezuela,” said Congressman Castro. “We know this war is not about protecting democracy or the security of the American people. It’s about oil and land. The President has said that he is in charge of Venezuela. Instead of addressing the cost of living for Americans, the President wants to spend billions of dollars rebuilding Venezuela and benefit his oil executive friends. Every House member needs to be on the record about whether they support yet another nation building effort, this time in Venezuela.”

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