Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said the delay in releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein is the result of a court order issued by a federal judge in New York, not political interference, and emphasized that the files will be released once the required legal process is completed.

Speaking about the status of the documents, Luna said Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered a second review of the materials and required additional certification before any release could occur. She said that decision is the sole reason the files have not yet been made public.

“It’s important to note that the reason why the files have been delayed in release is because of Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York,” Luna said.

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According to Luna, the judge directed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to conduct another review of the records and required certification by Attorney Jay Clayton before the Department of Justice can release them.

“This judge specifically ordered the SDN, the SDNY, to do a second review and for those documents to then be certified by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton,” she said.

Luna said frustration over the delay should be directed at the judge who issued the order, not lawmakers or the Department of Justice.

“So if you want to get mad at someone. Look no further than judge Paul Ingram, I who then also, at the same time, just denied Massie and Ro Khanna’s motion to appoint a special master,” Luna said.

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She noted that the judge also rejected a request to appoint a special master to oversee the review, eliminating what she described as a potential avenue to speed up the process.

“So we can argue back and forth all day long about where the files I want to see the files too. I want everyone to come in and answer questions,” Luna said.

Luna stressed that Judge Engelmeyer is not affiliated with either major political party, pushing back on claims that partisan motivations are driving the delay.

“But look no further than this person. By the way, this person is not a Democrat or Republican. I think this person actually might be an independent,” she said.

She reiterated that the delay is procedural and that the documents will move to the Department of Justice once the review is complete.

“But if you’re wondering where the files are at that is the truth of the matter. That’s it,” Luna said.

Luna said that once the Department of Justice receives the documents, they will be made available as required.

“As soon as those files come out at the DOJ, we’re going to get them,” she said.

She also referenced efforts to maintain communication and transparency among officials involved in the process, saying that additional discussions are planned.

“And by the way, I will remind people that weren’t here earlier. Todd Blanche will get on a phone call with people here,” Luna said.

She added that she planned to facilitate further communication between Blanche and congressional leadership.

“And after this, I’m going to go walk over Todd Blanche cell phone number to Chairman Garcia and to Chairman commerce. They can both get on the call,” Luna said.

Luna said she believes open communication is necessary but stressed that the legal process cannot be bypassed.

“I think it’s important to open dialog, okay, but the point is, is that we have to know the facts, and those are the facts,” she said.

She concluded by again pointing to the judge’s order as the determining factor in the timeline and said the process cannot be rushed.

“So look no further than judge Paul Engelmayer. Again, he’s the one person that appointed the review, a second review, and then once those documents are then reviewed, then it goes to the DOJ. But you can’t fast track the process, of course,” Luna said.

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