Newly released documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein are once again raising questions about President Donald Trump’s past statements regarding his relationship with the disgraced financier, according to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D–Maryland).
Raskin said he reviewed unredacted Epstein files on Monday at a newly created Department of Justice satellite office, which was set up to allow members of Congress to examine original materials ahead of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Only lawmakers not their staff were permitted access.
After leaving the facility, Raskin described the process as unusually restrictive. He noted that there were just four computers available for more than 500 members of Congress, making it nearly impossible to conduct timely oversight of such a massive document archive.
As public scrutiny of Trump continues to intensify, attention has increasingly turned to his behavior, credibility, and public image. Recent analysis from experts examining Trump’s body language and Melania Trump’s public demeanor has added to ongoing discussions about transparency within the Trump orbit. At the same time, reports detailing the sharp decline in viewership for a Melania Trump documentary have raised questions about waning public interest.
Trump’s reactions to cultural moments have also drawn renewed attention. His angry response to the Super Bowl which he labeled the “worst ever” sparked backlash, especially as millions of viewers embraced the halftime performance that he criticized. Media coverage of the event, including NBC interrupting the broadcast, only added fuel to the controversy.
Against that backdrop, Raskin said the Epstein files themselves revealed troubling inconsistencies. He described widespread over-redaction, combined with failures to protect the identities of victims a problem he said has alarmed both Democrats and some Republicans who are demanding accountability.
One redacted passage stood out in particular. Raskin said he reviewed an email Epstein sent to Ghislaine Maxwell that included a summary from Epstein’s lawyers describing a 2009-era conversation involving Epstein’s legal team, Trump’s lawyers, and others.
According to Raskin, Epstein’s lawyers quoted Trump as saying that Epstein was not a member of Mar-a-Lago but merely a guest, and that he had never been asked to leave. That section of the document, Raskin said, was redacted without a clear explanation despite appearing to conflict with Trump’s repeated public claims that he expelled Epstein from the club.
Raskin also questioned the Justice Department’s timeline, noting that Attorney General Bondi has said the redaction process was completed months ago. Given the sheer volume of material, he said it was difficult to believe the review could have been done thoroughly in that timeframe.
He further criticized the limited access granted to Congress, arguing that meaningful oversight is impossible without additional resources. Without more workstations and clearer justification for redactions, Raskin warned, lawmakers cannot properly evaluate what has been withheld or why.
Raskin concluded by saying that members of Congress plan to press Attorney General Bondi directly about the flawed redaction process, the inconsistencies found in the files, and the millions of Epstein-related documents that remain unreleased. The goal, he said, is transparency and preventing further harm to survivors by ensuring the public record is handled responsibly.
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