Washington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Trump administration faced backlash for a partial release of convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein’s files, as lawmakers and victims demanded full transparency.
As reported by Sky News, the Trump administration’s limited release of Jeffrey Epstein files has drawn criticism for not fully complying with legal requirements.
How did the limited Jeffrey Epstein file release spark political backlash?
The US Justice Department published a batch of files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein shortly after 9 pm UK time on Friday, 19 December, ahead of the legal deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In a letter to Congress, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department is still reviewing the remaining Epstein files and is withholding some documents to protect victims.
According to Mr Blanche, the review of the files identified over 1,200 victims and their families, with redactions applied to protect their identities.
He noted that further releases could come by year-end. However, the Trump administration faced criticism for missing Friday’s deadline and failing to release all files under the Transparency Act.
Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, who helped pass the bipartisan law prompting the release, expressed criticism and disappointment in social media posts.
“The DOJ’s document dump of hundreds of thousands of pages failed to comply with the law authored by @RepThomasMassie and me,” Mr Khanna said.
He labelled the release as “disappointing” and said Epstein’s abuse survivors and their lawyers were still expecting to see more files.
Mr Khanna highlighted the concern, pointing to a document containing 119 pages of Grand Jury testimony that had been fully redacted.
“Unfortunately, today’s document release by @AGPamBondi and @DAGToddBlanche grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that @realDonaldTrump signed just 30 days ago,”
Mr Massie added.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the MAGA Republican Congresswoman and former Trump supporter, has also raised her concerns.
She resigned from Congress after President Trump publicly called her a “traitor” over her criticism of his handling of the Epstein files.
Ms Greene said,
“The heavily redacted Epstein files being released, failure to release them all by today’s lawful deadline, and redacting ‘politically exposed individuals and government officials.’”
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley said the administration missed the deadline, calling it a denial of justice to Epstein’s survivors.
He stated that he was
“exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency for the American people.”
Democrats may seek a court order to ensure the Justice Department complies with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, though the process could be lengthy as more files are released.
The House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for the Epstein files, which could pressure the administration, but a contempt-of-Congress move would require bipartisan support.
How did White House defend the partial Epstein files release?
The Justice Department clarified that all politicians’ identities remain intact in the released records.
It quoted Deputy Attorney General Mr Blanche in a post,
“The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law – full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim.”
The White House claimed the release demonstrated its commitment to justice for Epstein’s victims, while criticizing previous Democratic administrations for inaction.
The release came only after congressional pressure, a fact the White House statement ignored, as Trump officials had previously declared no additional Epstein files would be disclosed.
Which prominent figures appear in the newly released Epstein files?
The recently disclosed Jeffrey Epstein files revealed that Bill Clinton, the former US president, appears in multiple photos, including one in a hot tub and another with Ghislaine Maxwell. He denies any wrongdoing.
The current US president, Donald Trump, is barely featured, with only one image showing Epstein handing a woman a novelty cheque. Trump denies any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The late pop star Michael Jackson and singer Diana Ross also appear in the released Epstein files, though no context suggests any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew, seen lying across unidentified women and who settled out of court with Epstein’s victim Virginia Giuffre, and his former wife Sarah Ferguson, who appears in some images without context, are both featured in the released Epstein files.
How many victims are named or redacted in the Epstein files?
Virginia Giuffre is mentioned as a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. Andrew settled out of court with her.
Some images from the Epstein files show two young women, possibly minors, in Paris, but their identities have been redacted.
The 2006 police report lists 17 females, both adults and juveniles, as victims Epstein was accused of abusing, but their names have been redacted. The files censored more than 1,200 names or images of victims and their relatives.
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
In 2002, New York Magazine called Jeffrey Epstein a “moneyman of mystery.” He rose to the top of the global elite by handling billions in assets for largely secretive customers.
Epstein came under investigation in 2005 when Palm Beach authorities accused him of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl. The investigation expanded, but a confidential deal with federal prosecutors allowed him to avoid serious charges, resulting in a 2008 guilty plea on a relatively minor state-level prostitution offense.
In 2019, Epstein was charged with sex trafficking dozens of underage girls. He used his private jet to transport victims and died by suicide in jail after pleading not guilty.