Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz issues statement on his vote in favor of release of the Jeffrey Epstein files
KTVZ
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., issued a statement Wednesday regarding his yes vote earlier this week on H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
This bill will require that the Attorney General release, to the public, all documents and records in the possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
Here is the congressman’s statement, in full:
Said Congressman Bentz: “The horrific crimes perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices, and the inexcusable failure of federal prosecutors to hold them accountable, have left victims and their families seeking answers, transparency, and true accountability.
“The almost unanimous House vote to pass this bill, even though the bill is not perfect, clearly reflects that transparency in the Epstein matter is paramount.
“Amendments to the bill to clearly protect innocent victims from having their names disclosed as records are released were suggested to the authors of the bill, but were not adopted. This places responsibility for protection of the identity of the victims, as records are released, squarely upon the Attorney General.
“I urge the Attorney General, while complying with this law, to utilize the exception to disclosure contained in the bill to protect innocent victims so that they are not further damaged.
“If we are to have any chance of preventing future crimes, such as those committed by Epstein, and if we are to improve the prosecutorial process that allowed Epstein to avoid justice, we must encourage and support the House Oversight Committee’s Epstein investigation. Its findings can then be used to enact legislation addressing such atrocities, and the failed federal prosecutorial practices that followed,” Bentz concluded