Sponsors (2)
The bill increases victims' and state/local authorities' access to full federal investigative records and strengthens congressional oversight and remedies, at the cost of heightened privacy and national‑security risks, greater strain on DOJ investigations, and potential increases in litigation and taxpayer expense.
Victims of federal investigations can obtain full unredacted records about themselves (including FD-302s), improving their ability to understand harms and pursue civil or criminal remedies.
State and local prosecutors and law‑enforcement agencies can receive and use full unredacted federal records (including classified material under secure procedures), potentially improving state-level investigations and prosecutions.
Members of Congress gain expedited, time‑bounded (7‑day) access and a private right of action to challenge DOJ withholding, strengthening legislative oversight of federal investigative practices.
Providing full unredacted classified records to state actors risks mishandling or unauthorized disclosure of classified information, which could harm national security if secure procedures fail.
Expanded mandatory disclosures and limits on privilege can expose sensitive information about third parties (witnesses, informants, victims), creating privacy risks and potential safety harms for those individuals.
Civil and criminal penalties and requirements for rapid compelled disclosures could strain DOJ resources and ongoing investigations, potentially delaying other work or revealing investigative methods.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates enforceable rights to access specified Epstein-related records, allows state prosecutors/victims/Congress to sue the Attorney General, imposes expedited timelines, limits Touhy and privilege claims, and adds criminal penalties for concealment.
Official title: Amend the Epstein Files Transparency Act with respect to enforcement by an attorney general of a State.
Introduced July 15, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress July 15, 2026
Creates enforceable access and remedies for certain records related to the Epstein matter by allowing state prosecutors, victims, and Members of Congress to sue the Attorney General for unlawful withholding, redaction, delay, concealment, removal, or failure to publish specified records. It requires expedited handling, sets deadlines for congressional access and agency response, gives victims rights to obtain unredacted records about themselves, limits use of Touhy and some common-law privileges, and creates criminal penalties for federal officers who conceal, destroy, falsify, or lie about covered records. Also narrows and clarifies permissible redactions, requires DOJ to provide unredacted records to state prosecutors (including classified records under secure procedures), and defines key terms such as “victim” and “criminal network.” Courts must provide expedited dockets and may award relief, costs, and attorneys’ fees to successful plaintiffs.