DOJ Investigates Whether Epstein Files, Including Trump Interview Summaries, Were Improperly Withheld

(RightwingJournal.com) – The Justice Department now admits it may have illegally withheld over 50 pages of Epstein files from mandatory public release—documents that reportedly contain FBI interviews alleging sexual abuse claims against President Trump that were already dismissed in court years ago.

Story Snapshot

DOJ announces review after NPR discovered 53 missing pages from Epstein file releases, despite federal transparency law mandating full disclosure
Missing documents include FBI interviews from 2019 with an accuser whose lawsuit against Trump was dismissed in 2021; DOJ calls claims “unfounded”
Attorney General Pam Bondi denies political motivation, while Democrats demand investigations and accuse administration of cover-up
Sloppy DOJ redactions exposed personal information of approximately 100 Epstein victims, forcing file withdrawals and raising serious competence questions

Transparency Law Compliance Under Scrutiny

The Justice Department released over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents in January 2026 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, yet independent journalists uncovered glaring omissions. NPR’s investigation used serial number analysis to confirm that 53 pages cataloged in Ghislaine Maxwell’s discovery logs never appeared in the public database at justice.gov/epstein. These missing pages include summaries of four FBI interviews conducted in 2019 with an accuser who alleged abuse by both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump during the 1980s. Only one interview summary was released publicly, raising immediate red flags about selective withholding.

Political Firestorm Over Missing Trump Files

Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, sent a formal letter demanding explanations for what he termed illegal withholding of documents. The missing files center on allegations the DOJ itself has labeled “untrue and sensationalist claims” that were submitted before the 2020 election. The accuser’s civil lawsuit against Trump was dismissed in 2021, yet Democrats now weaponize the absence of these already-discredited documents to suggest political cover-up. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche previously sent Congress a February 14 letter explicitly denying any withholding based on political sensitivity, emphasizing their commitment to transparency under federal law.

The White House responded forcefully, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating Trump has been “totally exonerated” and pointing out the irony of Democrats raising Epstein concerns while ignoring their own party members’ documented connections to the convicted sex trafficker. This manufactured controversy reveals the left’s desperation to resurrect baseless accusations against a president who, unlike the Biden administration, actually prioritized releasing these files to the American people. The DOJ announced on February 25 that it is reviewing the flagged files and will release them if they were improperly withheld, though no timeline has been provided.

Victim Privacy Catastrophically Compromised

Beyond the political theater, the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein file releases has caused genuine harm to survivors. Improper redactions exposed the personal information of approximately 100 victims, according to victim attorneys who described the department’s work as “ridiculous.” Attorney Robert Glassman criticized the DOJ for simultaneously failing its transparency mandate while carelessly doxxing vulnerable victims who deserve anonymity and protection. The department was forced to withdraw files and implement fixes to its redaction processes, but the damage to victim safety and trust cannot be undone. These failures underscore government incompetence that transcends partisan politics.

Unanswered Questions About Federal Accountability

The review now underway raises broader concerns about federal transparency mechanisms and accountability under mandatory disclosure laws. The Epstein Files Transparency Act passed in 2024 specifically to prevent selective releases and political manipulation of sensitive documents. If the DOJ genuinely withheld cataloged files—whether through incompetence or intent—it represents a violation of federal law that demands consequences beyond promises to “review” the matter. Conservative Americans rightly question whether this same government apparatus can be trusted on any transparency issue, from classified documents to surveillance abuses, when it cannot execute basic compliance with explicit congressional mandates.

The coming weeks will reveal whether the missing pages surface and what they actually contain beyond already-dismissed allegations. What remains clear is that the DOJ’s botched execution—endangering victims while fueling partisan conspiracy theories—serves no one’s interests except those seeking to undermine public confidence in institutions. Americans deserve competent government that protects the vulnerable, follows the law, and provides transparency without political games or bureaucratic incompetence.