We’ll see all of the Department of Justice’s records relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, right? Not quite. Here’s what to know:
Will all of the material be released?
No. There is some fine print in the legislation’s language that allows for some files to be withheld. And the announcement of a new investigation into Epstein’s contacts raises real questions about how the Trump administration will respond.
Hold on, why is there a new investigation if the DOJ had already said its review was done?
Trump demanded it. When it became clear the Epstein files bill would pass, and after lawmakers released a tranche of emails obtained from Epstein’s estate that mentioned Trump and other high-profile figures, Trump went to social media to call on Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI specifically to investigate Epstein’s contacts with former President Bill Clinton, Clinton’s former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and others with ties to Democrats.
Bondi has apparently complied and launched that new investigation despite having earlier said the review of the Epstein files was complete. Bondi said yesterday that “new information” has come forward.
Will the new investigation block the release of any files?
It’s certainly possible. The law specifically exempts releasing any information that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.”
What’s the fine print on what can be released?
In addition to allowing the DOJ to withhold information related to active investigations, there are other permitted withholdings.
They include personal identifiable information of victims or other disclosures that would constitute an invasion of privacy. Also exempted is anything depicting child sexual abuse, death or physical abuse.
A much broader and subjective permitted withholding has to do with classified material or anything that needs to be “kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.”
Get answers to more questions here.
