{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-lujan-bipartisan-members-demand-doj-briefing-on-release-of-the-epstein-files/", "ICYMI: Luj\u00e1n, Bipartisan Members Demand DOJ Briefing on Release of the Epstein Files", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Senate and House sponsors of Epstein Files Transparency Act \u2013 recently signed into law \u2013 lead the charge to ensure law is fully implemented\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), who introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed into law, joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to brief Congress on the Department of Justice\u2019s compliance with the Act and its plan to fully release the Epstein Files by the law\u2019s December 19, 2025 deadline.\n\nSenators Luj\u00e1n, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) issued the letter as the Justice Department approaches the law\u2019s 30-day deadline to release all Epstein Files.\n\nSenators Luj\u00e1n and Merkley introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act earlier this year to ensure full transparency for the American people, accountability for those involved with Epstein, and justice for victims.\n\nNBC: Lawmakers ask AG Pam Bondi for a status update on releasing the Epstein files\n\nFive members of Congress from both parties and both chambers are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi for a briefing and status update by the end of the week on the legally mandated release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.\n\nThe signatories are Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., as well as the law\u2019s lead authors, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. They expressed in the letter a \u201cshared interest in supporting the Department of Justice\u2019s efforts to carry out the provisions of this critical new law.\u201d\n\nWaPo: Lawmakers ask Bondi for Epstein files update as deadline nears\n\nThe lawmakers who signed Wednesday\u2019s letter \u2014 Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-New Mexico) and Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (D-California) \u2014 asked for a briefing \u201cto discuss the full contents of this new information in your possession.\u201d\n\nDaily Beast: Lawmakers Demand Urgent Briefing With Bondi Over Secret New Epstein Intel\n\nLawmakers from both sides of the aisle are demanding an urgent sit-down with Attorney General Pam Bondi over new information related to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.\n\nIn a letter sent Wednesday, they gave Bondi until Friday to provide them with the \u201cnew information\u201d that was cited as the impetus for fresh Epstein-related investigations, which could hinder the full release of the files. Republicans Thomas Massie and Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats Ro Khanna, Ben Ray Lujan, and Jeff Merkley in calling on Bondi to back up her words from a Nov. 19 press conference, according to NBC News. As the lawmakers note in the letter, Bondi at that time said \u201cnew\u201d and \u201cadditional\u201d information had emerged to warrant fresh investigations into figures connected to Epstein.\n\nAxios: Pam Bondi asked to brief lawmakers on hurdles with releasing Epstein files\n\nThe bipartisan group of five lawmakers asked for the briefing in a Wednesday letter to Bondi in \u201cinterest of transparency and clarity on the steps required to faithfully implement\u201d the act.\n\nSens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) were joined in signing the letter by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).\n\nNY Magazine: When Will the Epstein Files Be Released?\n\nOn December 3, a group of bipartisan lawmakers signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi seeking an update on the status of the release process. \u201cIn light of the short 30 day deadline to release the Epstein Files, we are particularly focused on understanding the contents of any new evidence, information or procedural hurdles that could interfere with the Department\u2019s ability meet this statutory deadline,\u201d they wrote, per NBC News, which obtained the letter.\n\nThe lawmakers include Democratic representative Ro Khanna and Republican representative Thomas Massie, the lead co-signers of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, as well as Democratic senators Jeff Merkley and Ben Ray Lujan and Republican senator Lisa Murkowski. The group is seeking a briefing no later than Friday, December 5.\n\nRoll Call: Lawmakers seek update from DOJ on Epstein disclosure law\n\nA bipartisan group of five lawmakers has asked the Justice Department for a briefing by Friday on any new information that could interfere with the department\u2019s ability to release files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by a mid-December deadline.\n\nThe letter \u2014 signed by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., along with Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M. \u2014 points to reports about new information and a new investigation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-lujan-bipartisan-members-demand-doj-briefing-on-release-of-the-epstein-files/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.1188023276627064, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}