Name: U.S. lawmakers blast DOJ over Epstein files release
Uploaded: 2025-12-24T17:36:26.435Z
Duration: 2 min 16 s
Description: Democrats and some Republicans are blasting the Justice Department over its handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which included major redactions.

Democrats and some Republicans are blasting the Justice Department over its handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which included major redactions.

Washington

Lawmakers in Washington have expressed frustration with the Department of Justice over its handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. The most recent batch of files, released earlier in the week, contains references to former President Donald Trump, including records that contradict his previous statements about his association with Epstein, but do not indicate any wrongdoing.

Both Democrats and some Republicans have accused the DOJ of withholding documents and criticized the slow pace and heavy redactions. Survivors' advocates and Democratic lawmakers are demanding greater transparency, with Democrats threatening legal action if all files are not released as required by law.

U.S. lawmakers blast DOJ over Epstein files release

Switching gears now to a serious story in Washington. Even though it's Christmas Eve, another batch of Jeffrey Epstein files could be released at any time. The latest release came out Monday night. It includes several documents mentioning President Trump, but they do not show any wrongdoing. Democrats and some Republicans still say the Justice Department is holding back some documents, and Democrats are threatening legal action to force them into the open. Scott McFarlane is in Washington. Scott, good morning, what do you know? Hey, Vlad, good morning. The most recently released batch of files reveal more details about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and those associated with him. The Department of Justice says more pages are still to come, but the slow release and the extensive redactions have sparked criticism from lawmakers and from survivors. Thousands more files released by the Department of Justice include several that mention then-private citizen Donald Trump by name. One 2020 Department of Justice email reveals Trump flew on Epstein's plane at least eight times during the 1990s. That contradicts a statement from Trump last year, saying, quote, I was never on Epstein's plane. In another file, a woman told the FBI she had secondhand information about a party with prostitutes at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. The records also include an unexplained subpoena issued for employment records at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in 2021 as part of the probe of Epstein's co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. This whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success of the Republican Party. Trump has sought to distance himself from Epstein this week. I actually threw him out of Mar-a-Lago. The Justice Department yesterday acknowledged Trump's name was in the records, but said some of the documents contain, quote, sensationalist claims that are, quote, unfounded and false. It's just been extremely emotional for everyone. Attorney Jennifer Freeman represents some Epstein survivors and blasts the Department of Justice for not releasing all files with necessary redactions by last Friday's deadline. They want the truth, and it's been very hard to get the truth. And the only way to get the truth is transparency. Democrats in Congress say they're planning a legal challenge in the coming days if all files aren't released promptly. They argue the administration is flouting the deadline and flouting the law. Adriana? Scott, thank you and the team so much for pouring through all those documents.

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