The Department of Justice is investigating whether it wrongfully withheld documents mentioning President Donald Trump from the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a DOJ official. FBI notes from 2019 interviews with a woman who made allegations against both Epstein and Trump were omitted from the release, major media reported. The files were also missing from the unredacted collection available for members of Congress to review at the DOJ, Representative Robert Garcia said.
The DOJ released millions of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, according to multiple reports. The law prohibits the DOJ from withholding or redacting files because they could be embarrassing to public officials, according to the Act. The DOJ is only permitted to withhold files if they are duplicates, fall under attorney-client privilege, could hurt an ongoing investigation, or are completely unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell cases, according to the Act. Before releasing the files, the DOJ deployed hundreds of attorneys to review the files with instructions on redaction and release requirements, the Wall Street Journal reported. Reviewers were expected to flag any 'government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials', a DOJ spokeswoman said. The disclosure came more than a month after the statutory deadline for release.
Our preliminary objective is to evaluate the DOJ's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has insisted the department complied with the law and did not withhold documents to protect Trump. 'I can assure that we complied with the statute, that we did not protect President Trump. We didn't protect or not protect anybody,' Blanche said at a press conference.
The DOJ's internal watchdog will review the agency's handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, said William Blier, acting head of the Office of Inspector General. The inquiry will examine compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 'Our preliminary objective is to evaluate the DOJ's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act,' Blier said in an official statement. The audit will assess how the department identified, redacted, and released records related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Concerns include the release of files containing nude images, victims' personal information, and alleged over-redaction of names of powerful businessmen. Alleged victims of sexual abuse by Epstein have complained that DOJ repeatedly failed to redact photos and other details that could reveal their identities, according to Politico. Lawmakers have complained and suspect DOJ has not released some relevant documents, according to sources. The audit will also address allegations that the department withheld or redacted information related to a president, according to the Inspector General's office. A public report will be issued upon completion of the audit, according to the Inspector General's office.
Should any document be found to have been improperly tagged in the review process and is responsive to the Act, the department will of course publish it, consistent with the law.
In other news, a majority of Americans blame Donald Trump for surging gasoline prices, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. 77% of registered voters in the poll said Trump bears at least a fair amount of responsibility for the recent rise in gas prices. The rise in gas prices was sparked by Trump's decision to launch a war on Iran along with US ally Israel. 58% of voters said they would be less likely to support candidates in the November midterms who support Trump's approach to the conflict with Iran.
The Trump administration has moved to reclassify marijuana from schedule I to schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.