Fox News viewers were left stunned after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche offered a surprising explanation for why celebrities including former President Donald Trump appear in the Epstein files.
Blanche has faced widespread criticism for his comments on the ongoing revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Last November, under mounting pressure, Trump signed a law requiring the release of files connected to Epstein, the convicted child sex offender. This release included millions of documents, photos, videos, and other files, with redactions limited to victims’ names and other identifying information. You can read more about the growing fallout in this post on the Epstein files and high-profile figures.
Blanche previously admitted on Fox & Friends that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would not meet the original December 19 deadline. Since then, additional releases have revealed more high-profile connections to Epstein, thousands of mentions of Trump, and failures to properly redact some victims’ identities. For further context on public reaction and media coverage, see Fox News viewers fact-check a deranged Trump defense and Russia mocks Trump over latest Epstein revelations.
The most recent batch even included unredacted nude images of victims. During Monday’s episode of The Ingraham Angle, host Laura Ingraham pressed Blanche on these redactions. She noted, “The Wall Street Journal reports that names of dozens of victims were left unredacted, many of whom were minors or have not come forward publicly. How did these names slip through?” More details on the files and shocking disclosures can be found in this breakdown of the Epstein FBI files.
Blanche acknowledged the mistakes, saying that “hard-working lawyers” had been reviewing the files for 60 days, comparing the volume to “two Eiffel Towers” stacked in documents. He added, “The minute that a victim or their lawyer reached out to us since Friday, we immediately dealt with it and pulled it down. We’re continuing to do that.” He emphasized that their goal was always to protect victims. More on the public outrage and reactions can be seen in Fox News halts for major Donald Trump Epstein coverage.
When asked about possible prosecutions, Blanche said, “I’ll never say no, and we will always investigate any evidence of misconduct. But as you know, it’s not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein… It’s not a crime to email with Mr. Epstein.” He stressed that while some individuals may have committed terrible acts, the DOJ can only prosecute if there’s evidence of a crime. For more background on Trump’s interactions with Epstein, check Trump accuses Epstein of trying to smear him.
In response to Ingraham pointing out potentially incriminating photos, Blanche argued, “Photos can’t speak… we need witnesses and evidence.” When asked about videos, he said, “They’re all released. Not of any individuals having improper relations with victims, but there are videos, and they’re available for everyone to see.” Read more about related media coverage in CNN paused for breaking Trump alert.
The public reaction to Blanche’s comments was intense. On social media, some described him as “sick and twisted” or “tone deaf,” while others expressed disbelief at his claim that emailing or attending Epstein’s parties isn’t a crime. A few defended his point, noting that while such actions may be morally wrong, they do not automatically constitute criminal activity. For additional insights on public reactions and commentary, see Donald Trump fans say there’s something off and Fox News hosts give Trump alarming wake-up call.
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