The US Deputy Attorney General declares investigation closed.
Todd Blanche, the man spearheading the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files release, declared the probe into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's notorious sex-trafficking case officially over. In an interview with ABC News, Blanche made it clear: the review is done.
Victims of Epstein’s crimes are still yearning for justice. Blanche acknowledged their suffering, stating survivors want restitution. Yet, he emphasized there's no room for fabricating evidence or conjuring charges that aren't substantiated. "But that doesn’t mean we can just create evidence," he remarked, addressing concerns.
Friday’s document release was met with outrage from survivors, demanding more accountability. Blanche faced criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argue the published files are incomplete. Some identities were reportedly exposed without proper redaction. Blanche assured corrective measures would be swiftly implemented, noting these errors accounted for just 0.001% of the material.
In face of accusation of a cover-up, Blanche firmly denied it, declaring, "We have nothing to hide." Meanwhile, Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, openly challenged the extent of the justice department's disclosure, arguing only about half the documents required under transparency laws have been revealed.
Khanna highlighted shocking revelations within released files, implicating wealthy and influential figures like Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick, among others, connected to Epstein’s social circle. No charges have been filed against these individuals. Khanna called it one of the biggest scandals in US history, stressing the demand for accountability.
Meanwhile, Maryland House Democrat Jamie Raskin criticized the Trump administration for its “case closed” stance. He dismissed the 3 million documents released as inadequate, questioning the selection process. Hakeem Jeffries, House Democrat leader, echoed this sentiment. On ABC’s This Week, he insisted that total transparency and complete accountability remain unmet.
Jeffries demanded to know what is still hidden. The justice department maintains that many documents are duplicates from different probes in Florida and New York.
Key Takeaways
US DOJ ends Epstein case review, says no evidence fabrication.
Critics claim only half the documents required are released.
Allegations involve high-profile figures, but no charges filed.
Adapted by ASEAN Now from Source 2026-02.02
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