Target of criticism, Trump administration denies trying to cover up Epstein affair after publication of files

Epstein’s victims have expressed their outrage after the publication on Friday (19) of a set of court documents against the late sex offender, with many censored pages and hidden photos. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department and the decision to remove photos showing groups of people, including at least one showing Trump.

“There were concerns about these women and the fact that we posted that photo. So we took that photo down. It has nothing to do with the president,” Blanche, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Asked if any of the documents had been censored due to political sensitivities – which would be illegal – Blanche replied: “absolutely, certainly not.”

Also this Sunday, Democratic lawmakers accused Trump himself of defying a law that orders the release of all files on Epstein, who died in prison in August 2019, before his trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors and criminal conspiracy.

“It’s about covering up things that, for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn’t want to reveal, whether it’s about himself or other members of his family and friends,” Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Content posted Friday included photographs of former President Bill Clinton and other figures, such as music stars Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Owner of a large fortune, Jeffrey Epstein circulated among the rich and famous.

The Justice Department claimed it was protecting Epstein’s victims through the censored parties. But the numerous redactions — and allegations of missing documents — have only intensified calls for justice in a case that has fueled conspiracy theories from Trump’s right-wing base.

“Selective concealment”

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has long campaigned for the full release of the files, joined the Democrats’ demands.

“They are violating the spirit and the letter of the law. The position they have taken is very concerning. And I will not be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied,” he told CBS’s “Face The Nation.”

A 60-count indictment involving known individuals has not been released, according to Massie. “This is a selective cover-up,” he said.

Sen. Rand Paul, another Republican and frequent Trump critic, warned during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” that any undisclosed content “is going to haunt them for months and months.”

At first, Trump attempted to block the release of files linked to Epstein. However, the president ultimately gave in to growing pressure from Congress – including from members of his own party – and signed the law mandating the release of this information.

Trump was once close friends with Epstein, regularly attending parties together, but severed ties with him years before his arrest and is not the subject of allegations of wrongdoing.

Accomplice in prison

At least one of the released files contained dozens of censored images of nude or semi-nude people, while previously unpublished photographs of Britain’s former Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II, show him lying on the legs of five women.

Other images show Bill Clinton relaxing in a hot tub, with part of the image blacked out, and swimming alongside a dark-haired woman who appears to be Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, remains the only person convicted of his crimes and is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for the former banker, whose death was ruled a suicide.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives, said on “This Week” that judicial authorities must provide a written explanation to Congress within 15 days on why they withheld documents.

“It certainly appears that this initial release of documents is inappropriate,” Jeffries said.

(With AFP)