September 22, 2026
City Council
DATE: September 22, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Soheila Bana
Subject: Resolution Urging the United States Congress to Pass H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. This resolution expresses a position of the City Council and directs staff to transmit correspondence; no expenditure of City funds is required.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Government transparency and accountability are
foundational to public trust. Richmond and communities
nationwide have a direct interest in the full dismantling of human trafficking networks, which requires that survivors, investigators, and the public have access to complete and unredacted documentation.
Timely passage of H.R. 9694 would strengthen
enforcement of an existing legal mandate that Congress
has already determined serves the public interest.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution urging the United States Congress to pass H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, and DIRECT the city clerk to transmit copies of the
resolution to Congressman John Garamendi, Senator
Adam Schiff, and Senator Alex Padilla - Councilmember
Soheila Bana (510-672-3490).
AGENDA
REPORT
September 22, 2026
DISCUSSION:
In November 2025, Congress enacted the original Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38), requiring the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to release unclassified federal records related to the criminal network of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The law passed with broad bipartisan support, reflecting strong public demand for accountability and transparency.
Since that law's enactment, its sponsors and other lawmakers have stated that the DOJ has not fully complied with its disclosure requirements. According to statements from the bill's authors, millions of pages of records remain withheld or have been released with what they describe as excessive redactions, limiting the ability of survivors, state attorneys general, and law enforcement to pursue accountability and further investigation.
On July 15, 2026, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) introduced H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, with a companion Senate bill led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The bill would amend the original Epstein Files Transparency Act to:
Grant standing to state attorneys general, victims, and members of Congress to challenge the DOJ in federal court over noncompliance with disclosure requirements;
Provide victims direct access to unredacted records concerning the harm they suffered;
Limit the use of certain legal privileges to withhold records from public disclosure; and
Establish penalties for officials who intentionally conceal or destroy responsive records.
Government transparency and accountability are foundational to public trust. Richmond and communities nationwide have a direct interest in the full dismantling of human trafficking networks, which requires that survivors, investigators, and the public have access to complete and unredacted documentation. Timely passage of H.R. 9694 would strengthen enforcement of an existing legal mandate that Congress has already determined serves the public interest.
Adopt a resolution urging the United States Congress to pass H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, and directing the City Clerk to transmit copies of the resolution to Richmond's federal legislative delegation.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution