A Republican lawmaker has expressed support for community fact-checkers as the Trump administration faces backlash over its handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) took to social media on December 16, 2023, to celebrate the scrutiny directed at the administration following its alleged violations of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Massie, who introduced the legislation compelling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release files on Epstein, remarked, “Government lies are getting clobbered by community notes and I’m here for it,” in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The DOJ was mandated to release all relevant files by December 19, 2023, but the agency admitted to withholding hundreds of thousands of documents and making unauthorized redactions.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Massie co-sponsored with Ro Khanna (D-CA), aims to ensure transparency in the release of information related to Epstein, a financier implicated in numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Despite this, several Trump administration officials publicly praised the DOJ’s release of documents, claiming it demonstrated transparency.
On the same day, the DOJ’s official account asserted that it would continue to produce materials related to Epstein “consistent with the law.” This statement was met with immediate pushback from community fact-checkers, who labeled the DOJ’s actions as inconsistent with the law. One community note stated, “The actions of the DOJ aren’t ‘consistent with the law.’”
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi also claimed on social media that President Donald Trump was leading “the most transparent administration in American history,” a statement that was similarly challenged. The community note responding to her comment bluntly stated, “Contrary to the claim, instead of transparency the administration runs defense for pedophiles and rapists.”
The DOJ faced further criticism regarding its redaction practices. The Epstein Files Transparency Act permits redactions solely to protect the identities of victims and minors. Yet, community notes flagged the DOJ’s claims as misleading, stating, “The Department of Justice’s ‘extensive redaction’ of the currently released Epstein files does not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which makes it against the law.”
This incident highlights the tension between government transparency and the public’s right to access information about high-profile cases. With the ongoing fallout from the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, it remains to be seen how this will impact both public trust and future legislative efforts regarding transparency in government actions.
