Millions of Epstein documents made public
Over the past two months, the US Department of Justice has released millions of documents related to its sex-trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the review, mandated by Congress in November, is complete and does not justify new prosecutions.
“There’s a lot of correspondence. There’s a lot of emails. There’s a lot of photographs,” Blanche said. “But that doesn’t allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.”
Congress pursues its own inquiry
While the DOJ review may be over, the House of Representatives continues its own investigation. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to testify later in February after Republicans threatened contempt of Congress.
Members of Congress and Epstein’s victims are still demanding additional disclosures, claiming documents exist that were not included in the DOJ’s release.
High-profile figures under scrutiny
Some powerful individuals have faced professional and personal consequences from the files. Former Prince Andrew, Lord Peter Mandelson, and former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, among others, had continued contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.
Tech billionaires such as Bill Gates and Elon Musk have had to address mentions of their names in the documents. President Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, appeared at the White House saying, “Really time for the country to get on to something else.”
Trump mentions in the documents
Despite his statements, Trump’s name appears over 6,000 times in the files, frequently mentioned by Epstein and his associates. An email from Epstein in 2011 noted that Trump “has never once been mentioned” in relation to one victim.
The DOJ also released unverified FBI tips from 2016, including allegations of sexual abuse against Trump, Epstein, and others. The department said the claims were unfounded and removed them temporarily from its website, fuelling suspicions of protective treatment for the former president.
Victims and transparency concerns
Epstein survivors, including Lisa Phillips, expressed dissatisfaction with the DOJ’s handling of document releases. They cited missing documents, missed release deadlines, and disclosure of survivor names.
Despite some public frustration, many of Trump’s supporters have largely moved on, focusing on other national headlines such as Minneapolis unrest and the FBI’s voting fraud inquiry.
Future congressional action
The story is far from over. Democrats continue to demand unredacted versions of the documents, and Clinton’s testimony could generate significant political attention. If Democrats regain control of the House, they plan to issue subpoenas for Trump and other Republicans to testify.
Years after Epstein’s death, the saga demonstrates that the story continues to hold political and public significance, even as the president seeks to shift the nation’s focus elsewhere.
Source: BBC
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