The release of the Epstein papers, in the hands of a Justice Department loyal to Trump
Once the president has signed the law, the ministry will have 30 days to release the documents.
WashingtonThe bill to force the release of the Epstein papers is now on its way to the Oval Office for Donald Trump's signature, as he promised. the speed with which Congress has moved The fact that the bill was approved in a single day, with only one vote against it, will very likely not be reciprocated by the Justice Department in releasing the documents. Once the US president signs the law into law, the Justice Department will have 30 days to publish the documents. But there's a catch. The Justice Department, which will be governed by the law, has been purged by the president and has practically become his personal ministry for settling scores with those he considers his political enemies. Therefore, discretion regarding what is published will very likely be subject to Trump's pressure. The president already publicly booed Attorney General Pam Bondi because she wasn't succeeding in finding charges against former FBI Director James Comey, whom he considers his adversary. The booing had an effect, because Comey was eventually indicted. The law passed in Congress to publish the Epstein papers It also includes a series of categories that would allow the department to withhold certain documents. For example, it can reserve any information it deems to expose personal details about victims, including explicit descriptions of child abuse, images of death or injury, or information classified to protect national security. There is also another section that gives the department the discretion not to release anything it considers could jeopardize a federal investigation.
An investigation that serves as a shield
This last section gives broad leeway in deciding what is published and what is not. Although the Epstein case investigation is already closed after the pedophile was found dead in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, Trump ordered the Department of Justice to open an investigation on "Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, JP Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was happening between them and him."
The existence of this investigation could now serve as a shield for the Justice Department to withhold whatever it deems appropriate. Even the release of all the remaining documents in the Epstein case could be used to turn the scandal against the Democrats and divert attention from Trump. The Epstein case has become a scourge for the US president and the entire Republican party, which is already anxiously watching the start of the election year approach, with midterm elections that will be crucial for maintaining a majority in Congress.
