President Donald Trump is not going to suggest a particular prosecutor within the investigation of late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing Thursday.
“The president wouldn’t suggest a particular prosecutor within the Epstein case. That’s how he feels,” Leavitt told reporters, as she confirmed that the concept had been floated to him by somebody within the media.
(A particular prosecutor is normally relied on in cases the place the principle prosecutor has a battle of curiosity or different challenge that will stop them from being unbiased in a specific case.)
Epstein’s demise and his prison trial, quite a few investigations and lawsuits (collectively often known as “the Epstein files”) have been the topic of debate for a lot of right-wingers for years. Many have known as for the information to be launched — and some have — and for an extra investigation into Epstein and who was concerned in his alleged intercourse trafficking.
Trump previously had a relationship with the late disgraced financier, who died in a jail cell in 2019 as he awaited a trial on intercourse trafficking prices. Final 12 months, whereas on the marketing campaign path, Trump claimed at least twice that he would launch the Epstein information, however he has since reversed course.
Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whom Trump has had a rocky relationship with through the years, blasted Trump on his social media platform X over the Epstein information final month.
“Time to drop the actually massive bomb,” Musk mentioned. ”[Trump] is within the Epstein information. That’s the actual cause they haven’t been made public.”
Davidoff Studios Pictures by way of Getty Photos
Final week, the Justice Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation mentioned in a memo that they didn’t discover any proof that Epstein had a so-called “shopper listing” he had been rumored to have used as blackmail. It additionally mentioned they might not launch any further data sooner or later.
When prompted by a reporter at Thursday’s press briefing, Leavitt rejected the concept the White Home may launch the Epstein information with redactions defending delicate data.
“When it comes to redactions or grand jury seals, these are questions for the Division of Justice. These are additionally questions for the judges who’ve that data beneath a seal. And that must be requested and a choose must approve it. That’s out of the president’s management,” Leavitt mentioned.
Trump has largely tried to maneuver away from the publicity surrounding the Epstein case, calling it a “hoax.” Nonetheless, he’s drawn the ire of a few of his supporters and many of his Republican colleagues who proceed to name for extra transparency concerning the Epstein information.
Fox Information’ Jacqui Heinrich requested Leavitt Thursday to “make clear which a part of the Epstein ‘hoax’ is the ‘hoax’” that Trump has referred to.
“The president is referring to the truth that Democrats have now seized on this as in the event that they ever needed transparency in terms of Jeffrey Epstein, which is an asinine suggestion for any Democrat to make,” Leavitt mentioned. “The Democrats had management of this constructing, the White Home, for 4 years, they usually didn’t do a dang factor when it got here to transparency with reference to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes.”
Whereas authorities mentioned within the memo that they “didn’t uncover proof that would predicate an investigation towards uncharged third events,” in addition they confirmed that Epstein harmed greater than 1,000 victims and that DOJ officers reviewed included greater than 10,000 “downloaded movies and pictures of unlawful little one intercourse abuse materials and different pornography.” It additionally included 10 hours worth of video footage — with one minute lacking — of Epstein’s jail cell earlier than his demise to show that he died by suicide.
Proper-wing conspiracy theorists — including Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino — have argued that Epstein didn’t commit suicide, however was as an alternative killed by highly effective figures making an attempt to maintain secrets and techniques hidden.
“Considered one of our highest priorities is combatting little one exploitation and bringing justice to victims,” the memo learn. “Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of these ends.”
The memo straight clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s claim to Fox News in February that she obtained the listing and deliberate to assessment it following “a directive by President Trump.”
