How an Unlikely Duo Brought the Epstein Files to Light

""I saw you release the 'Phase 1' of the Epstein files," Massie remembers asking Bondi at the April 28 dinner. "When do you think we might get 'Phase 2'?" Bondi looked him in the eyes, Massie said, and explained that all that was left to be released was material she considered "child pornography" and that there was nothing more there."

"After the Justice Department announced in July that it would not share any more records, Representative Ro Khanna of California held a morning strategy meeting with his staff and asked for ideas for new bills. Sarah Drory, a young communications staffer who had never before spoken up in this meeting, had a suggestion: "What about a bill to release the Epstein files?""

"Three days later, Khanna introduced an amendment in the Rules Committee requiring the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files to gauge support and was surprised when a Republican congressman from South Carolina voted for it. After that vote, Massie called Khanna, and they discussed a long-shot idea late into the night."

Representative Thomas Massie questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about unreleased Epstein files at a Justice Department dinner, receiving an explanation that remaining materials contained child pornography. When the DOJ announced in July it would release no additional records, Representative Ro Khanna's staffer Sarah Drory proposed legislation to compel their release. Khanna introduced an amendment in the Rules Committee requiring DOJ disclosure, which unexpectedly gained bipartisan support when a Republican congressman voted for it. This prompted Khanna and Massie to discuss pursuing a collaborative effort to obtain the files, suggesting emerging cross-party interest in transparency regarding the Epstein case.

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