Perp Walks and Paper Trails: US Congressman Demands Arrests After Epstein Files Bombshell

The Epstein files saga has produced millions of pages, thousands of videos, arrests across the Atlantic, and yet somehow, in the country where the abuse actually took place, not a single pair of handcuffs has clicked shut. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie would very much like that to change.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight's Victoria Derbyshire, Massie did not mince words: "Men need to be perp-walked in handcuffs to the jail." It is the kind of statement that sounds like hyperbole until you consider what the files actually contain.

The Numbers That Should Keep People Awake

Since the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law by President Trump in November 2025, the US Department of Justice has released approximately 3.5 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. That is not a filing cabinet. That is a warehouse. And according to CNN, roughly 2.5 million documents remain unreleased.

Massie, who co-authored the bipartisan legislation with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, has reviewed portions of the unredacted files. He claims an internal FBI document identifies between 80 and 100 victims by name. He has called the scandal "bigger than Watergate," noting it "spans four administrations." Whether you agree with that comparison or not, the scale is genuinely staggering.

The UK Moved First

Here is where things get pointed. While the United States has produced the paperwork, it is the United Kingdom that has actually made arrests. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) was arrested on 18 February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released the same day and denied any wrongdoing. Five days later, Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion related to sharing confidential information with Epstein. He was released on bail.

Meanwhile, stateside? Nothing. No arrests. No indictments. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche offered the memorable defence that "it is not a crime to party with Mr Epstein." One imagines his legal team workshopped that line extensively.

Congressional Theatre, Mixed Results

The congressional response has been a blend of genuine effort and unfortunate missteps. On 10 February 2026, Rep. Khanna read six men's names into the congressional record, identifying them as redacted figures likely implicated in the files. It was a dramatic moment, somewhat undermined when Khanna later walked back four of those names after OCCRP reported that some appeared to be ordinary New Yorkers rather than powerful figures. A reminder, perhaps, that righteous anger and careful fact-checking do not always travel at the same speed.

Bill and Hillary Clinton each testified before Congress in late February, sitting for approximately six hours apiece. Attorney General Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee on 4 March 2026, though a closed-door meeting reportedly fell apart when Democrats walked out over her refusal to commit to subpoena compliance. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also agreed to testify regarding his own Epstein connections.

Why Massie Keeps Pushing

Massie told Derbyshire he believes his Epstein campaign is precisely why President Trump is "upset with me." He also suggested that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor "would and could be called as a witness" in future cases. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but Massie is clearly not planning to let this story fade quietly.

The fundamental question remains uncomfortably simple. Millions of pages have been released. Arrests have been made in the UK. Congress has held hearings. Yet in the United States, the country with jurisdiction over most of the alleged crimes, the legal machinery sits idle. Massie wants perp walks. Survivors want justice. So far, they have received paperwork.

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