A group of well-known conservative figures were seen leaving the White House on Thursday with white binders bearing the Department of Justice seal. The binders, labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” were displayed to cameras.
This event occurred shortly after Attorney General Pam Bondi, recently confirmed this month, announced the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender. Bondi stated the files would contain flight logs and names of those involved, but cautioned that some information would be withheld to protect over 250 victims.
Upon review, the released documents contained significant redactions and primarily included previously reported information. Although the binders were marked “declassified,” it was questioned whether the contents had ever been classified. The limited scope of the release led to criticism from some Republicans, including Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who heads a House GOP task force focused on government transparency.
Luna stated, “I nor the task force 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,” . “THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!”
Individuals seen carrying the binders outside the White House included political commentator Rogan O’Handley (DC Draino), Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik, podcaster Liz Wheeler, and Jack Posobiec, among others.
Bondi discussed the document release in a Fox News interview on Wednesday, hinting at the contents but not confirming any new revelations beyond what was already public knowledge. Epstein’s history of abusing underage girls has been widely documented through lawsuits, criminal records, and public disclosures.
In January 2024, a court unsealed a large set of documents from a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim. These materials, including police reports and victim testimonies, had already been made public.
Epstein’s predatory behavior, spanning over a decade, included allegations of abusing hundreds of children, some as young as 14, in an operation allegedly involving prominent individuals such as politicians, celebrities, and royalty. His 2019 death, ruled a suicide while awaiting trial in a Manhattan jail, fueled conspiracy theories and intensified calls for transparency.
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