The US Justice Department has been accused of employing classic Washington tactics to obscure former President Donald Trump's connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This follows a legally mandated but highly controlled release of documents related to the Epstein case late on a Friday afternoon, a move widely interpreted as an effort to bury unfavourable news.
A Slow Trickle of Documents
Facing a court-ordered deadline to release the files, the department's actions raised immediate red flags. Instead of a full disclosure, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Fox News that the release would be staggered. He stated that "several hundred thousand" pages would come out initially, with more to follow in the coming weeks, citing the need to protect victims' identities.
However, the actual release on Friday evening fell short of these promises, comprising only thousands of heavily redacted pages. Notably, Donald Trump's name was conspicuously absent from the materials, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informing Trump earlier this year that he was mentioned within the files.
Political Reactions and Strategic Distractions
The strategy appears designed to balance demands from Trump's political base for transparency while minimising potential embarrassment. By stretching the release over the holiday period, officials likely hope public attention will wane. This approach has sparked bipartisan criticism.
Republican Thomas Massie, who sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandating the release, declared the move a failure to comply with the law. Meanwhile, the White House defended the administration's transparency, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson claiming it had "done more for the victims than Democrats ever have."
Clinton in Focus, Celebrities in Frame
While Trump was missing from the released documents, former President Bill Clinton featured in several images, including one obtained by the Trump-friendly site The Daily Wire a day prior. Photos showed Clinton lounging in a pool and a hot tub with another individual whose face was redacted.
Justice Department and White House spokespeople were quick to highlight these images on social media. A Clinton spokesperson, Angel Ureña, fired back, accusing the Trump administration of using the former president as a distraction. "This isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be," Ureña stated.
The files also included images of other celebrities like Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and Richard Branson, none of whom have been accused of crimes related to Epstein. Their inclusion creates a broader social context around Epstein's associations, potentially diluting the focus on any single individual.
The limited release has fuelled anger among Democratic lawmakers, with some, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi's resignation. The unfolding strategy suggests the controversy over the Epstein files and the transparency of the administration's handling of them is far from over.
