Attorney General Pam Bondi promised maximum transparency after Congress demanded almost unanimously to release files about Jeffrey Epstein. But some lawmakers say they're worried a new investigation into Epstein's Democratic friends could be used as a pretext to withhold key documents.

Washington

A bill mandating the release of unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein is awaiting the president's signature, following his recent decision to support the measure. The legislation gives Attorney General Pam Bondi the authority to withhold information that could identify victims or compromise ongoing investigations. 

Concerns have emerged among lawmakers that a new DOJ investigation, initiated shortly after a presidential request to examine Epstein's Democratic ties, could be used to justify keeping significant documents sealed. Attorney General Bondi has not indicated whether she will withhold any files, but maintains that the new probe is based on recently received information.

DOJ probe of Epstein’s Dem ties raises fears files may stay sealed

Good evening. I'm Maurice Dubois. I'm John Dickerson. A bill ordering the Justice Department to release what are known as the Epstein files within 30 days now awaits President Trump's signature. The president has said he will sign the measure after abruptly dropping his opposition over the weekend and called on Republicans to support the release of all documents connected to criminal investigations into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But obstacles remain. The bill gives Attorney General Pam Bondi the power to withhold information that would identify victims or jeopardize active federal investigations. Chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes leads us off tonight. We will follow the law. Attorney General Pam Bondi promised maximum transparency today after Congress demanded it. Is there an objection without objection? So ordered Bondi now has just 30 days to produce all unclassified records and investigative materials related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That includes flight logs, witness interviews and any immunity deals, all of which could shed light on who had sex with or got massages from the hundreds of underage girls allegedly trafficked by Epstein and his co conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. This feels like a victory. Annie Farmer was one of those girls and spoke to CBS mornings. I think that there's a lot of information in there about not only people that we haven't heard before that we have not heard before in terms of in terms of names of people that not only participated in these crimes, but the people that enabled the crimes and the people that funded the crimes. But there's already a new wrinkle and it has to do with the investigation. Bondi opened last week, three hours after President Trump asked her to look into Epstein's Democratic You gotta find out what did he know with respect to Bill Clinton with respect to the head of Harvard. Some lawmakers say they're worried this new investigation will be used as a pretext to withhold key documents. I do have that concern. Will the public really get to see the complete Epstein files redacted only to protect the victims or will they be redacted to protect others including the It is a loophole. Tom Dupree is a former federal prosecutor. The attorney general does have the power to determine that certain documents if released would jeopardize an ongoing investigation and she can withhold those documents at least for now on that basis. And these might be documents that everyone wants to see. They absolutely could. In fact, arguably they could be some of the most important documents in the file. Bondi did not say today whether she plans to withhold some of the documents. She insisted that this new investigation is legitimate and is based on new information that D. O. J. Received after it announced just this past summer that no further probes into Epstein's friends or associates are warranted. Okay, Nancy Cordes at the White House. Thank you.

President Trump said he signed a bill on Wednesday night requiring the Justice Department to release files about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ now has 30 days to make the files public.

Trump says he's signed bill to release Epstein files

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