Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) accused the Trump administration of defying federal law and engaging in what he called a “massive and unacceptable cover-up” of the Epstein files.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Merkley pointed to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which he introduced in the Senate with Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The legislation, he emphasized, explicitly bars the withholding, delay, or redaction of records on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity—including for government officials or public figures.
Ninety-nine days after its passage, Merkley said, the Trump administration has failed to comply. He alleged that while victims’ names and photos were improperly left unredacted in some releases, substantial redactions appeared to shield potential perpetrators. Of roughly six million pages of material, he pointed out, only slightly more than three million have been made public.
Among the missing documents, Merkley cited reporting by The New York Times describing 50 pages that detail allegations made in 2019 by a woman who accused both Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump of sexual assault when she was a minor. According to the report, four interviews were conducted with the woman, but only one has been released. Merkley said the remaining three interviews are listed in the index yet absent from the public file.
“How can anyone justify that?” he asked, stating that the omissions demonstrate deliberate concealment.
Merkley also referenced reporting by The Telegraph indicating that Epstein maintained six storage units across the country that may contain additional materials the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not attempted to retrieve.
Merkley Calls For Transparency, Accountability, And Justice Over The Epstein Files
The senator noted that the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed the Senate by unanimous consent. He added that Schumer sought to strengthen the measure with enforcement penalties, but that effort was blocked by Republican whip John Barrasso (R-WY).
If Republicans truly support full disclosure, Merkley said, they should have no objection to adding enforcement measures. He stated, “if Republicans were with us on seeking full disclosure, why object to putting more teeth into this bill?”
Merkley framed the issue as one of basic accountability and justice, urging bipartisan support for complete transparency, consequences for perpetrators, and meaningful closure for victims. He concluded, “we all together, Democrats and Republicans, should be saying ‘yes’ on transparency for the public, ‘yes’ on accountability for the perpetrators, and ‘yes’ for the closest thing we can get to justice for the victims.”
