JUST IN: A source confirms the Department of Justice has failed to provide Congress with the legally required explanation for redactions in the newly released Epstein files—despite a January 3 statutory deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers say the silence raises fresh questions about what information is being withheld and why. But that’s not all. The same source reveals quiet moves now underway in Congress in response to the recent Venezuela attack, actions reportedly taken without congressional approval. Behind closed doors, pressure is building—and Donald Trump may be heading for a confrontation the public hasn’t yet been told about.

Washington — Tensions are rising on Capitol Hill after a source confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice has missed a key legal deadline tied to the release of newly disclosed Epstein-related files.

Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the DOJ was required by January 3 to provide Congress with detailed explanations justifying any redactions in the released documents.

According to lawmakers familiar with the matter, that explanation has not been delivered. The delay is fueling bipartisan frustration and renewed scrutiny over what information remains concealed and the legal basis for withholding it.

Members of Congress say the lack of response is eroding confidence in the transparency process and could trigger formal oversight actions if the department does not comply.

Several lawmakers have privately questioned whether the redactions involve sensitive intelligence, prosecutorial concerns, or politically damaging material.

At the same time, the same source points to growing unease inside Congress over recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela.

Lawmakers are reportedly examining quiet procedural moves following the attack, amid concerns that key decisions were made without explicit congressional authorization.

Behind closed doors, discussions are intensifying over possible legislative or legal responses.

While no public confrontation has yet emerged, officials warn that Washington may be approaching a flashpoint—one that could soon force unresolved questions into the open.