US lawmakers threaten Pam Bondi with contempt action over unreleased Epstein material

A Republican and a Democrat who have led calls for transparency accuse the justice department of failing to meet legal obligations.

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The release of the Department of Justice (DoJ) documents was highly anticipated but in the end, only a portion of the available material was made public.

A leading campaigner on the issue, Republican congressman Thomas Massie, said he could try to bring contempt proceedings against the attorney general as a result.

The DoJ insists it is complying with its legal obligations, and Bondi herself has said she is part of "the most transparent administration in American history".

The phrase "Epstein files" refer to the trove of information that was amassed by the US justice department during its two criminal investigations into Epstein.