TRUMP’S team has caved by agreeing to hand over the mainly uncensored Epstein files to congress, as it tries to bury theories about a missing client list.
Busting open the Epstein files was one of Trump’s election promises, but since coming to power he has refused and tried to divert attention from the issue.
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The President has come under intense pressure – including from voices within his own camp – who argue that if there is nothing to hide then the information should be set free.
Some are convinced the files contain a “client list” which could incriminate public figures – and link this with conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s suicide.
Now, the campaigners have secured a major win with the administration agreeing to turning over most of the material held on the disgraced paedophile financier by the end of the week.
The government’s hand has been forced by Congress’s House Oversight Committee, which this month issued a subpoena for “all documents and communications relating or referring to” Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
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This was a rare sign of pushback against the President by Congress.
Tuesday was set as the initial deadline, but chairman of the committee James Comer announced he would delay it until Friday in recognition of the Justice Department’s cooperation.
The Republican representative said: “Officials with the department of justice have informed us that the department will begin to provide Epstein-related records to the oversight committee this week on Friday.”
“There are many records in DoJ’s custody, and it will take the department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted.”
Comer added: “I appreciate the Trump administration’s commitment to transparency and efforts to provide the American people with information about this matter.”
The order, seen by US media, requests that the files are uncensored other than material which could identify Epstein’s victims, shows child sex abuse or is otherwise redacted by law.
Epstein was in prison awaiting a major trial over sex-trafficking charges after decades of sick activity with minors, facilitated by Ghislaine.
He was found hanged in his cell in August 2019, but the case has never shaken off speculation that others were involved in his death.
Last month, an FBI probe concluded that Epstein committed suicide, and that the much-hyped “client list” does not exist – but even this did not quell the calls for the files to be released.
In an effort to put the speculation to bed, the Justice Department released around 11 hours of CCTV footage from inside the facility where Epstein died, including the point his body was discovered.
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But a mysterious “lost minute” was noticed in the video soon after release, when the clock ticked from 11:58:58 straight to midnight – skipping out 62 seconds.
Attorney General Pam Bondi explained this was caused by a glitch in the prison’s outdated system – and claimed the same minute is missing from footage every night.
Then it was revealed that the video was actually made of two clips stitched together – debunking the claim it was the “full raw” file.
Further analysis showed that one clip had been trimmed before release – and the data the first clip was actively cut at the 11:58:58 mark.
The FBI’s conclusion that the client list is fictional directly rails against what administration officials have previously said.
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In an interview on Fox News in February, Pam Bondi herself said the client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”
She later attempted to clarify that she had meant the Epstein file in its entirety.
Many within Trump’s MAGA movement allege that the files about the paedophile’s crimes have been withheld to protect big names.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he supported the release of the files.
Speaking on a podcast with Benny Johnson, the Republican said: “It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.
“I’m for transparency,” he added.
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Other conservative figures have since demanded to see all the documents related to Epstein’s crimes.
Lauren Boebert, another conservative Republican said a special counsel should be appointed to investigate the financier’s crimes if more Epstein files were not released.
And Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said the voters expect more accountability.
Even Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a Fox News host, has called for “more transparency” from the administration.
All the while, Trump has rejected the suggestion the files contain anything of note.
He said last month: “I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff.”
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