AILSA CHANG, HOST:
For the first time, lawmakers can review unredacted copies of the Justice Department's Epstein files to see what information has been withheld from versions that were released to the public. Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin says what they've learned is that they have only scratched the surface.
JAMIE RASKIN: The ones they're not releasing are the ones that are piquing my interest the most. And we've probably been able to look at less than 1% of them.
CHANG: Lawmakers argue that the already difficult process of combing through the millions of files is now being hindered. Joining us now is NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, who's been following all of this. Hi, Claudia.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: Hi, Ailsa.
CHANG: OK, so I've been hearing lawmakers say that they've been under surveillance, basically, by the Justice Department when they're searching through all of these files, like they're being spied on. Can you explain? What is happening?
GRISALES: Well, lawmakers are already facing an arcane process when they try to view these records. They have to set an appointment at the Justice Department to get a time slot. And there's only four terminals set up to search through the 3.5 million records released so far. And they can't take in any electronics or any staff. And yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was carrying a binder at a House oversight hearing with a printed list of members who've conducted these searches and the specific documents that they looked at. I talked to New Mexico Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez about this.
TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ: This is exactly why this whole process is flawed and a sham. And it is an outrage that they are spying on Congress.
GRISALES: And she says DOJ should be investigating the Epstein case, not lawmakers who are looking through these documents in controlled searches. And she said when she did look at the files herself, she found names of men that should have been released long ago.
CHANG: Interesting. OK, so even though there have been these roadblocks, do we know if these lawmakers are uncovering any new revelations?
GRISALES: Yes, they have. The authors of the Epstein Transparency Act - this is Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna - they've been a key part of forcing the release this week of names of men and co-conspirators that were redacted on some of these files. Ultimately, what a lot of these lawmakers want is what they've heard from the Epstein survivors and what they want, which is a release of the full list of men who they believe were part of this sex trafficking network - and accountability. Here's Vermont Democrat Becca Balint.
BECCA BALINT: They really want us to help them change the culture, and we made that commitment to them. How long do we follow this? Until we feel like the work is in a good place. And we're nowhere near that right now.
GRISALES: So it's clear they're playing a really big role here.
CHANG: Yeah. OK, so then what are some of the other challenges that these lawmakers are facing as they're trying to review these files?
GRISALES: Well, they passed a law requiring the release of these files nearly three months ago now. Lawmakers say this process has been riddled with pushback from President Trump and his administration. And until they change their posture or there are changes in leadership, people will not be held accountable. Here's North Carolina (ph) Republican Nancy Mace this morning speaking with our colleagues on Morning Edition.
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NANCY MACE: And it's going to be up to us in a bipartisan manner in Congress to have the courage and the bravery to bring these people before America and let them answer for what actually happened.
CHANG: OK, so what happens next, Claudia?
GRISALES: Well, lawmakers say it's going to be an uphill process. It's going to take a lot of time. They're going to keep searching the records that have been released. But we know the Justice Department has not released 3 million records they say are duplicates, but lawmakers are not buying that. So we should expect them to put a lot more pressure on Attorney General Bondi, Trump and his administration to make sure everyone who should be held accountable is.
CHANG: That is NPR's Claudia Grisales. Thank you, Claudia.
GRISALES: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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