Teresa Leger Fernández says Blanche and the Justice Department are hiding the truth by withholding Epstein files
Teresa Leger FernandezU.S. representative from New Mexico and chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, co-leading the bill, in the sponsors' announcement
Leger Fernández says Blanche and the Justice Department have refused to release as many as 3 million Epstein files, that there must be consequences when the administration does not comply with the law, and that Blanche should resign rather than be confirmed.
Responding to
The Justice Department continues to unlawfully withhold more than 3 million Epstein files and is maintaining heavy redactions on the files it releases.
“Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice have refused to release as many as 3 million Epstein files: they are hiding the truth from the American people and creating even more injustice and trauma for survivors”
Official statement
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Massie says a second Epstein files bill will get the 218 signatures needed to force a House vote; the Justice Department says it complied with the first law
Rep. Thomas Massie says a discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which would let states, survivors and members of Congress sue the Justice Department over withheld Epstein records, will reach 218 signatures when the House returns. The House clerk lists 216. The department says it complied with the 2025 law.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Massie's office announces H.R. 9694, which would give state attorneys general, victims and members of Congress standing to challenge the Justice Department in court over compliance with the 2025 law. The release quotes Massie, Khanna, Leger Fernández, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ben Ray Luján, and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, and says a discharge petition will be circulated if the House does not consider the bill within seven legislative days.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
Khanna's office posts the announcement of H.R. 9694 with the same statements from Khanna, Massie, Leger Fernández, Merkley, Luján and Torrez that appear in Massie's July 15 release.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The sponsors' announcement says the bill would give state attorneys general, victims and members of Congress standing to challenge the Justice Department in court for failing to comply with the 2025 law.
After the quotation
She says that when the administration does not comply with the law there must be consequences, that Blanche is not fit to serve and should resign, and that Congress must pass the bill to put power with survivors.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files under the 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act, which the Epstein Files Transparency Act II would let states, victims and members of Congress challenge in court. Leger Fernández says the department is refusing to release millions of files and hiding the truth, which condemns its handling of the files.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- Todd Blanche, United States Department of Justice
More from this case
Read the full caseThomas Massie says the second bill would let members take the Justice Department to court for keeping files hidden
“Survivors will be able to get their own records, State Attorneys General can prosecute crimes, and we can take the DOJ to court for keeping critical files hidden.”Read statement
Letitia James says the federal administration has failed to release Epstein records as the law requires
“Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act to ensure accountability and transparency, but the federal administration has failed to release records as the law requires.”Read statement
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson says Trump has done more for Epstein's victims than anyone before him
“by releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee's subpoena request, signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and calling for more investigations into Epstein's Democrat friends, President Trump has done more for Epstein's victims than anyone before him.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Teresa Leger Fernández says Blanche and the Justice Department are hiding the truth by withholding Epstein files". First published: 2026-11-08. Last updated: 2026-11-08. https://disputeindex.com/events/8376-leger-fern%C3%A1ndez-says-blanche-and-the-justice-department