The Trump administration has faced criticism for “purposefully muddying the waters” after releasing a list of hundreds of names mentioned in the Epstein files, critics said.
Controversial list
Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a six-page letter to Congress over the weekend that included high-profile politicians such as Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The list also named Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson, as well as celebrities including Mick Jagger, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, George Clooney, Beyoncé, Cher, and Janis Joplin.
The Trump administrations claims that being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing, and some listed individuals may not have had any interaction with Epstein. Both Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson have denied any misconduct.
Transparency claims
Bondi stated the list covered all “government officials or politically exposed persons” whose names appeared at least once in the files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. She emphasised that the Department of Justice released all records, documents, communications, and investigative materials without withholding or redacting information for “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”
Criticism from lawmakers
Democrat Ro Khanna, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, criticised the list, saying it blurred the distinction between actual predators and individuals merely mentioned in emails. He highlighted absurdities, including the inclusion of Janis Joplin, who died when Epstein was 17, alongside convicted abuser Larry Nassar. Khanna called on the DOJ to release full files while redacting only survivors’ names.
Republican Thomas Massie, also a co-author, criticised the DOJ for citing deliberative process privilege to withhold internal documents, including memos and emails detailing prosecutorial decisions. Massie said the DOJ removed some of the most significant documents before lawmakers could review unredacted versions.
Background
The release follows more than three million additional documents on Epstein, including emails, over 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images, which became public on 30 January. Epstein died in his prison cell in August 2019, shortly after his arrest on sex trafficking charges.
Also read: Pam Bondi faces fierce hearing clash over Epstein files
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
