The Department of Justice (DOJ) is said to have withheld FBI interviews related to an allegation that President Donald Trump sexually abused a minor, reported Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia.
Garcia, a leading Democrat on a committee examining Jeffrey Epstein’s case, stated, “Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor who accused President Trump of heinous crimes.”
Trump has declared he severed ties with Epstein two decades ago and denied any wrongdoing. Last year, after opposing the release of Epstein files, Trump signed a law mandating their disclosure once it was passed by Congress.
A DOJ spokeswoman indicated that the file listing all FBI interviews with the survivor was temporarily taken down for redactions and has been restored online. She also noted that no files have been deleted and documents have been provided unless their withholding is justified.
The White House, reiterating DOJ’s stance, said all responsive documents have been disclosed unless legally exempt. They urged Democrats to cease “misleading the public while manufacturing outrage.” Previously, a White House spokesperson cited the document release as proof of their transparency.
Sara Guerrero, Garcia’s spokesperson, argued that the DOJ has not addressed the missing files issue, despite an active subpoena from the Oversight Committee.
Legislation passed last year restricts redactions to protect victims or classified information or not jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations. Garcia asserted, “Under the Oversight Committee’s subpoena and the Epstein Files Transparency Act, these records must immediately be shared with Congress and the American public.”
