Trump's DoJ releases 'Phase 1' of Epstein Files, but fails to deliver bombshell that was expected

The US Department of Justice on Thursday released parts of the controversial “Epstein Files,” stirring a major uproar among Conservative influencers. As these social media personalities left the White House, holding white binders emblazoned with the Department of Justice seal, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the report could include “a lot of names” associated with the disgraced financier.

The initial published report titled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1" is now believed to be lacking bombshell information. As a part of the first phase, Bondi declassified and released an evidence list, flight logs, a redacted contact book and a redacted masseuse list linked to Epstein, Time reported. It is pertinent to note that some of these documents were already publically available through court filings and did not reveal any sort of groundbreaking information.

While speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Bondi said that the DOJ plans to release a “lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information" related to Epstein. The British financier was accused of sexually abusing more than 100 women, including minors. “I think tomorrow … you’re going to see some Epstein information being released by my office," Bondi teased in the Fox News interview.

The release of the files has been a long demand from both sides

Bondi’s remarks on the matter follow lawmakers who have been publically pushing the DoJ to release the Epstein files. Even Democrats have long advocated for the information to be made public. The X account for Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats wrote, “Pam Bondi is sitting on the Epstein files right now. What’re you waiting for?" a day before the files were released. The committee also shared photos of Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell with President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk (neither have been accused of any wrongdoing).

Bondi argued that her office delayed the release of the files to protect the information and the lives of Epstein’s victims. She maintained that it was US President Donald Trump who ultimately gave a “directive” for her to review the documents.

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While the binders were marked as “declassified,” the question remains whether the information released had ever been classified in the first place. Interestingly, the limited scope of the release drew criticism from some Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who leads a House GOP task force on government transparency.

“I nor the task force nor I were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today … A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein’s phonebook,” Luna tweeted. “THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” Hence, chances of any new information being released in the file look bleak.

With inputs from agencies.