Justice Department says members of Congress can't intervene in release of Epstein files

"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 U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton that he must reject a request made earlier this week by the congressional cosponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act to appoint a neutral expert."

"Clayton, though, said Khanna and Massie do not have standing with the court that would allow them to seek the extraordinary relief of the appointment of a special master and independent monitor. Engelmayer lacks the authority to grant such a request, he said, particularly because the congressional representatives who made the request are not parties to the criminal case that led to Maxwell's December 2021 sex trafficking conviction and subsequent 20-year prison sentence for recruiting girls and women for Epstein to abuse and aiding the abuse."

"Epstein died in a federal jail in New York City in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. The Justice Department expects to update the court again shortly regarding its progress in turning over documents from the Epstein and Maxwell investigative files, Clayton said in the letter. The Justice Department has said the files' release was slowed by redactions required to protect the identities of abuse victims."

Jay Clayton informed Judge Paul A. Engelmayer that the court lacks authority to appoint a neutral expert to oversee public release of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking probe. Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, cosponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, raised urgent concerns about slow document releases and alleged criminal violations in the release process. Clayton argued the representatives lack standing to seek a special master and independent monitor because they are not parties to the criminal case. Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 and sentenced to 20 years; Epstein died in August 2019. The Justice Department said redactions to protect victim identities slowed releases and will update the court on its progress.

Read at www.twincities.com