Gambiaj.com – (WASHINGTON, D.C., United States) – The U.S. Department of Justice has withheld dozens of documents from the public release of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, including FBI interview records connected to allegations involving President Donald Trump, according to an investigation by NPR.
The report found that more than 50 pages of FBI interview notes and related materials appear to have been catalogued but not published, despite a law requiring the disclosure of Epstein-related records.
These include documents connected to a woman who accused President Trump of sexual abuse when she was a minor, as well as records involving another alleged victim who testified in the criminal case against Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
NPR said its review of serial numbers, case logs, and discovery records showed gaps in the public database, suggesting the existence of additional material not made available. The Justice Department declined to publicly explain the omissions but later said unpublished files may be privileged, duplicative, or related to ongoing investigations.
The issue has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers. Robert Garcia, a senior Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he reviewed unredacted evidence logs and alleged the department “appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews” connected to one accuser. Democrats on the committee have since launched a parallel investigation into the Justice Department’s handling of the documents.
The White House rejected the allegations. A spokeswoman said President Trump had been “totally exonerated” in matters related to Epstein and emphasized his administration’s cooperation with congressional inquiries and efforts to release records.
The White House also cited a Justice Department statement warning that some Epstein files contain what it described as “untrue and sensationalist claims” about the president.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers in a recent letter that no documents were withheld to avoid embarrassment or political fallout.
According to the released files, the FBI interviewed one accuser four times beginning in 2019, but only one interview has been made public, and it did not mention President Trump. Discovery logs indicate additional interviews and notes exist but remain unpublished.
Another accuser told investigators Epstein introduced her to President Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Club when she was about 13 years old.
That interview was briefly removed from the Justice Department’s website before being restored, while related interviews remain unavailable pending further review and redactions, officials said.
The Justice Department said it has removed and reposted thousands of documents in recent weeks to correct redactions and protect victims’ identities, acknowledging the complexity of reviewing millions of pages under congressional deadlines.
Attorneys representing Epstein victims criticized the department’s handling of the disclosures, arguing it had failed to balance transparency with victim privacy and completeness.
The controversy adds to ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the government’s management of records related to his crimes, which have drawn renewed public and political attention following the large-scale release of files earlier this year.
Source: NPR
