In November 2025, Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) initiated a discharge petition to compel the House of Representatives to vote on legislation requiring the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the legislation passing with strong bipartisan support, Massie has criticized the DOJ for failing to meet a December 19 deadline for document release, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding the FBI's 302 forms and initial documents from Epstein's 2008 plea deal.

In response to the DOJ's handling of the files, Khanna and Massie urged Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to appoint a special master to oversee the release, citing concerns over the DOJ's reliability in fulfilling mandatory disclosures. Representative Theresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) raised additional concerns about the release process, noting discrepancies in the redaction of identities, which she argued could further victimize those already harmed.

Meanwhile, the DOJ has resumed legal proceedings against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey after a judge dismissed charges against them. The DOJ's appeal seeks to consolidate the cases before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Both James and Comey are contesting the indictments, which were issued by a prosecutor appointed by former President Donald Trump, arguing that the appointments violated constitutional laws.

In a separate development, Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are calling for the impeachment of two federal judges over rulings perceived as unfavorable to Trump. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized Chief Judge James Boasberg for his orders related to the investigation into Trump's actions surrounding the 2020 election. Democratic committee members have countered that judicial rulings should be challenged through the appellate process, warning that calls for impeachment could exacerbate threats against federal judges.

Additionally, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has raised alarms about a potential initiative from the DOJ that could lead to the purging of voter rolls in South Carolina, which they argue may violate the National Voter Registration Act. The DNC expressed concerns that a rushed cleanup of voter rolls could disenfranchise eligible voters, emphasizing the need for careful management of voter data to protect citizens' rights.

In the realm of foreign policy, President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on Venezuelan oil, indicating a willingness to deploy U.S. troops to secure oil reserves following military operations aimed at deposing Nicolás Maduro. An executive order signed on January 10, 2026, aims to protect Venezuelan oil revenue from being seized by courts or creditors, asserting that these funds should be used to promote stability in Venezuela. This order coincided with discussions about significant investments in Venezuela's oil infrastructure by U.S. companies, raising questions about the implications of military and economic interventions in the region.