Bondi says DOJ "will follow the law" when asked about Epstein files bill passed by Congress

Key Concepts

• Epstein Files
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Southern District of New York (SDNY)
• Transparency
• Victim Protection
• New Investigation
• Pending Investigation
• Epstein Estate
• Ghislaine Maxwell

Release of Epstein Files and Transparency

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has released over 33,000 Epstein documents to "the Hill" and intends to continue following the law to ensure "maximum transparency." This commitment to transparency is reiterated by the Attorney General, who states they will "continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims."

Legal Obligations and Timeline

When questioned about providing all files within 30 days, the Attorney General stated, "We will follow the law." The law in question has passed both chambers but has not yet been signed. The DOJ's approach is to "continue to follow the law again while protecting victims but also providing maximum transparency."

Rationale for New Investigation

A previous DOJ statement indicated that a review of documents and evidence did not suggest the need for additional investigation of third parties. However, the Attorney General explained that "new information" and "additional information" have come to light, prompting the launch of a new investigation. The DOJ encourages any victims to come forward and will continue to provide maximum transparency under the law.

Scope and Nature of the New Investigation

Regarding the new investigation, the Attorney General declined to provide further details, stating, "we're not going to say anything else on that because now it is a pending investigation in the Southern District of New York." When asked if the department is seeking information from the Epstein estate, particularly since Mr. Blanch did not have certain information when interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell, the Attorney General referred to the deputy attorney general's post on X. The question of whether the investigation is limited to named persons or is broad and open-ended was also not directly answered, with the Attorney General emphasizing the pending nature of the investigation.

Conclusion

The DOJ is committed to releasing Epstein files with maximum transparency while prioritizing victim protection. A new investigation has been launched due to the emergence of new information, though specific details regarding its scope and the information sought remain undisclosed due to its pending status in the Southern District of New York. The department will continue to follow the law as it pertains to the release of these files.