Epstein Files: The latest release of the documents associated with Jeffrey Epstein was supposed to be about transparency. It has unleashed a political tempest that now involves questions of legality, messaging and who controls the public voice of the US Department of Justice.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a cosponsor of the legislation that forced the disclosures, accused the department of failing to comply with both the spirit and the letter of that law.
Who is running the DOJ X account?
Massie’s criticism didn’t stop with belated disclosures and blacked-out documents. He publicly questioned who was behind the wheel of DOJ’s account on X when it used uncommonly sharp elbowed language on journalists Christmas Eve.
DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.
By the way, who’s controlling the DOJ X account on Christmas Eve and using words like “dope” to refer to reporters? https://t.co/7ITXfVsT0h
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 24, 2025
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Slated in slang and dismissive terms, the tone seemed out of character for a self-consciously cautious, formal institution. For Massie, the tone itself became evidence that something was new and off kilter behind the curtain.
How DOJ’s X account has changed
Observers soon caught a new tone and tenor online from the department. The account adopted a rapid and response style, pushing out clarifications and rebuttals at speed. Posts stressed that no politicians names were being deliberately concealed and attempted to explain why certain materials were removed after publication.
The DOJ also warned that some documents contained claims submitted shortly before the 2020 election that it described as unreliable and this is a more hostile approach than has been witnessed to date.
Epstein Files Transparency Act
At the core of the dispute is the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed unanimously last year, which compelled the Justice Department to release records connected with investigations related to Epstein.
Massie contends that DOJ broke the law by failing to meet deadlines and using redactions he says were not justified under the law. The department has said its actions were needed to avoid causing harm and spreading misinformation. The dispute underlines the much deeper tension between openness and institutional caution.
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700,000 Epstein documents to be reviewed
The scale of the task adds another layer of complexity. According to reports citing officials, roughly 750,000 records have already been reviewed by a team of around 200 staff members an estimated 700,000 documents still await examination.
While many records are said to be duplicates, the sheer volume explains, though does not excuse, the slow pace that critics continue to question.
White House is managing the DOJ’s X account
Adding even more fuel to that fire are new reports that the White House has taken an active role in managing the DOJ’s X account, shaping public understanding of the releases of the files.
If this is true, such a move would blur a sensitive boundary between political leadership and an agency expected to operate independently. Whether perception or reality, the issue deepened public skepticism at a moment when trust is already fragile.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on reported developments and public statements and reflects analysis and opinion, not legal findings or official conclusions.
