Federal judge denies Massie and Khanna’s request for ‘independent monitor’ over release of Epstein files

A federal judge denied Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna‘s (D-CA) request on Wednesday for a “special master and independent monitor” to oversee the Justice Department’s rollout of the Epstein files.

Following their successful championing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, Massie and Khanna have ripped the DOJ for not complying with the law’s rollout timeline for the files. On Jan. 13, the congressmen filed for a neutral overseer to hold the DOJ accountable for the full release, in accordance with their law, of the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued the opinion blocking Massie and Khanna’s request.