The Department of Justice has come under fire for including the name of deceased rock legend Janis Joplin in a list of over 300 "high-profile figures" connected to Jeffrey Epstein's case, prompting accusations of deliberate obfuscation in a highly anticipated document release.
On Saturday, the DOJ released a six-page letter naming these individuals, among them singers who died decades before Epstein rose to notoriety. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) criticized the move as obvious stall tactics, arguing it hinders transparency in what should be a landmark investigation.
Janis Joplin, famed for her hit "Me and Bobby McGee," died of a heroin overdose in 1970. Jeffrey Epstein, by contrast, was not even born until 1953, raising questions about the relevance of her inclusion alongside figures tied to Epstein's activities.
"The DOJ is muddying the waters," Khanna said, highlighting concerns that the agency is flooding the list with irrelevant names to protect powerful elites allegedly involved in Epstein's crimes, including those who flew on his "Lolita Express" and visited his island.
The release comes amid broader criticisms of the DOJ, which has been accused of weaponizing its resources against former President Trump while now shielding the true perpetrators in the Epstein saga from scrutiny.
Khanna's remarks mark a rare bipartisan note of frustration with the administrative state, as he called for focus on actual suspects rather than historical figures like Joplin, urging investigators and journalists to cut through the noise.
With the Epstein files long demanded for full disclosure, the inclusion of such names has intensified calls for genuine accountability, ensuring that the real predators face justice without distraction.
