WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department has launched an internal review after law enforcement records tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein — and including unverified allegations about former President Donald Trump — were omitted from a massive public document release, prompting fierce debate among lawmakers and transparency advocates.
Missing FBI Interview Notes Trigger Review
The department’s disclosure of more than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein’s criminal network last month was meant to satisfy the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law requiring broad public access to investigative files. However, lawmakers and media critics have flagged several FBI interview summaries — or so-called 302s — as missing from the published cache, particularly those stemming from a 2019 interview with a woman who accused Trump and Epstein of assault when she was a minor in the 1980s. The DOJ acknowledges these interview memos existed but says they were withheld for legal and privacy reasons, not political ones, as it now reviews the matter to determine if the omissions were improper.
Bipartisan Backlash Over Transparency
Democratic leaders in Congress have sharply criticized the Justice Department, accusing it of suppressing documents that could shed light on sensitive claims. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), senior Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has called for full disclosure of the withheld records and is urging additional congressional inquiries into DOJ practices. Critics argue that releasing all non-privileged material is essential to fulfilling the intent of the transparency law.
Republicans have largely backed the DOJ’s right to withhold certain content on legal or privacy grounds, but some GOP lawmakers have also voiced concern about the department’s handling of the files. Trump allies emphasize that the unverified claims included in the omitted materials have not been proven and stress the importance of distinguishing rumors from substantiated evidence.
Trump Denies Wrongdoing, Political Tensions Rise
Trump, whose name appears thousands of times in the released Epstein files through emails, notes and investigator summaries, has repeatedly denied any misconduct or complicity in Epstein’s criminal activities. His supporters highlight that no law enforcement agency has charged him in connection with the Epstein probe, and Trump’s official spokespeople dismiss the missing records as politically exploited misinformation.
The controversy has also intensified partisan divisions around congressional oversight. Some Democrats are pushing for Trump to testify before lawmakers about his history with Epstein, while Republican critics argue the issues represent a broader battle over how politically charged allegations are handled in public records. Meanwhile, the DOJ maintains it did not deliberately shield any individual and is committed to completing its legal obligations under the transparency statute.
