Trump Administration Faces Criticism Over Epstein Files Disclosure
The Trump administration has been accused of deliberately obscuring the truth by releasing a list containing hundreds of names mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a six-page letter to Congress over the weekend, which included a comprehensive roster of high-profile individuals.
Controversial List Includes Prominent Figures
The document names numerous politicians, such as President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, and ex-UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Additionally, it mentions Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who had his royal and military titles revoked due to his connections with Epstein, and Peter Mandelson, who recently left the Labour Party and resigned from the House of Lords following further revelations about his relationship with the disgraced financier.
Celebrity names also appear on the list, including Mick Jagger, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, George Clooney, Beyonce, Cher, and Janis Joplin. It is crucial to note that being named in these files does not imply any wrongdoing, and some individuals may have had no direct correspondence or interaction with Epstein.
Legal and Political Backlash
Attorney General Bondi asserted that the list comprises all individuals who are or were government officials or politically exposed persons, as well as those whose names appear at least once in the files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The letter states that the Department of Justice has released all required records, documents, communications, and investigative materials, with no records withheld due to embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.
However, Democrat Ro Khanna, who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Republican Thomas Massie, strongly criticized the list. "The DOJ is once again purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email," Khanna stated. He highlighted the absurdity of listing Janis Joplin, who died when Epstein was 17, alongside Larry Nassar, a convicted sexual abuser, without clarifying their respective mentions in the files.
Calls for Full Transparency
Khanna and Massie have demanded the release of the complete files, urging the DOJ to redact only survivors' names and stop protecting predators. Massie further criticized the DOJ's approach, noting that the department has cited deliberative process privilege to withhold some documents, contrary to the bill's requirement to release internal memos, notes, and emails regarding prosecution and investigation decisions.
Massie also expressed concerns that the DOJ removed significant documents before they could be reviewed in unredacted form. Interestingly, both Khanna and Massie's names appear on the list, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Background and Ongoing Developments
This controversy follows the release of over three million additional documents related to Epstein on January 30, including email exchanges, more than 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking charges. The Department of Justice has been contacted for comment regarding these allegations.
