OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 17 other state attorneys general sent a letter to Congress on Thursday urging the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. The group, which includes the attorneys general of Arizona, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, called for the legislation to provide legal tools for pursuing justice.

The proposed act would allow state and local authorities to sue the U.S. Attorney General over records alleged to be unlawfully withheld or redacted. It also introduces criminal penalties for Department of Justice employees who fail to comply with record release requirements and establishes broad legal standing for states, residents, and law enforcement agencies claiming investigative or informational harm. The bill exempts record requests from agency regulations that could prevent disclosure.

"The systemic cover-up of this global pedophilic sex trafficking ring is a glaring stain on our nation, and it is time to clean house," Bonta said. "For too long, those in power have silenced these survivors and hidden behind redactions."

The attorneys general said the Department of Justice's initial production of records was incomplete and haphazard. A review found that personal information of at least 43 victims was inadvertently exposed in released Epstein records, despite protections under the earlier Epstein Files Transparency Act. Primary source: azag.gov

"Passing EFTA II will grant my office legal tools needed to help pursue justice and criminal accountability right here in California," Bonta said. "This letter sends a strong message to Congress and the Trump Administration that we are done waiting for them to do the right thing — the states are joining together because protecting children transcends politics."

Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. Sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II secured 218 commitments for a discharge petition to force a floor vote during the post-election lame-duck session. The bill is currently stalled in the House Judiciary Committee due to leadership opposition.