Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Epstein Files Act II With 60-Vote Senate Hurdle

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 3

July 15 legislation from bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers would let state attorneys general, local prosecutors, survivors and Congress members sue the Justice Department if Epstein files are not released as required.
The bill responds to complaints that the original law—signed Nov. 19 with a 30-day disclosure mandate—produced missed deadlines, heavy redactions and disclosures of survivors’ personal information while withholding names tied to abuse allegations.
EFTA II would also give survivors full unredacted records about their own harm, require access for state and local prosecutors, and expose DOJ and FBI officials to existing criminal penalties for knowingly concealing or falsifying files.
Legal experts said the measure adds enforcement teeth and could spur state-level investigations, but warned the same department accused of stonewalling would still control the records and could continue delaying compliance.
Passage remains uncertain because the bill must clear the House, win 60 Senate votes and likely reach Donald Trump, whose administration says it has already released thousands of pages and complied with oversight requests.