A evaluation ordered by President Donald Trump-appointed management of the Justice Department and the FBI discovered no proof that infamous deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein saved a "client list" of associates whom he blackmailed or conspired with to victimize dozens of girls, in accordance with a brand new memo reviewed by ABC News.
The division has additionally launched hours of purported footage as a part of its evaluation, which officers say additional confirms Epstein died by suicide whereas in custody in his jail cell in Manhattan in 2019 — contradicting conspiracy theories lengthy embraced or unfold by allies of President Trump and others.
The memo can be more likely to generate outrage amongst those that have claimed Epstein’s identified high-profile associates might be implicated in his crimes. According to the FBI and DOJ evaluation, no additional expenses are anticipated in reference to their probes into Epstein, as investigators "did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
Attorney General Pam Bondi had beforehand promised the general public launch of scores of information related to federal probes into Epstein, although in current interviews, she has claimed the delay was attributed to "tens of thousands" of movies throughout the FBI’s possession displaying potential pornography of minors.
In late February, Bondi handed out binders with Epstein case recordsdata to pro-Trump social media influencers on the White House — recordsdata that finally contained little new info. As ABC News reported on the time, the transfer caught White House officers off guard and outraged some supporters of the president, who had been promised that extra particulars could be made public.
Bondi has confronted rising criticism from some Trump supporters over the delay in releasing the information. The Epstein recordsdata for years have been the topic of widespread hypothesis and conspiracy theories that the federal government was overlaying up info and a supposed "client list" to guard highly effective businessmen and politicians. Multiple sources have instructed ABC News that no such record has ever surfaced.
In explaining their willpower to not launch additional information from the investigation, the DOJ memo states that one of many authorities’s "highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims," earlier than including, "Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends."
President Trump and the White House have been peppered with questions in current months over the timing of the discharge of the following "phase" of paperwork beforehand promised by Bondi.
In an change within the Oval Office on April 22, Trump stated he was unaware of when the Epstein recordsdata could be launched.
"I don’t know. I’ll speak to the Attorney General about that," Trump stated. "I really don’t know."
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, within the midst of a public falling out with Trump within the wake of his departure from the administration final month — shared a publish on X that claimed the delay in releasing the Epstein recordsdata was on account of Trump’s title showing in them.
"Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files," he wrote. "That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT."
The publish was amongst a number of important of Trump that Musk later faraway from his account.
Trump quickly after dismissed Musk’s claims in an interview with NBC News.
"That’s called ‘old news.’ That’s been old news. That has been talked about for years. Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it — it’s old news," he stated.
"This has been talked about for years and years. And as you know, I was not friendly with Epstein for probably 18 years before he died. I was not at all friendly with him," Trump added.
In tense personal conversations, Bondi had beforehand pressed FBI Director Kash Patel to evaluation the still-secret info from the case involving probably the most notorious intercourse trafficking criminals in trendy historical past, sources instructed ABC News.
As many as a thousand FBI brokers, a lot of whom have been sometimes targeted on nationwide safety issues, have been enlisted to assist with the trouble, sources added.
In an interview in March, Bondi was requested concerning the rising stress from Trump’s base to launch extra recordsdata, and confirmed that the division was working to make them public.
"The MAGA group is mad that we do not know extra concerning the Epstein recordsdata…are you going to offer us any extra info? Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo requested the lawyer normal.
Bondi responded that FBI Director Kash Patel was engaged on offering the DOJ with a timeline for the following doc launch.
"We will get out as much as we can, as fast as we can to the American people," Bondi stated.
Axios was first to report the discharge of the DOJ and FBI’s memo.
