Bill > S5005

This bill, titled the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, amends the original Epstein Files Transparency Act to grant state attorneys general, district attorneys, and other authorized state officers the power to sue the Attorney General of the United States in federal court if they believe records related to the Epstein and Maxwell criminal network are being unlawfully withheld, redacted, delayed, or concealed. This includes allowing victims to sue for access to their own unredacted records, with provisions to protect the privacy of other victims. The bill also clarifies that certain federal regulations, like the Touhy Regulations, cannot be used to block access to these records for state law enforcement purposes, and it establishes penalties for federal employees who mishandle these materials, including imprisonment and fines. Furthermore, it grants members of Congress direct access to these records and the ability to sue if their requests are not met or are improperly handled. The bill defines "victim" broadly to include individuals harmed by the criminal network, even if their involvement originated from being a victim themselves, and defines "criminal network" to encompass anyone who knowingly participated in or facilitated the illicit activities.