(Adnkronos) – A ‘first list’ of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, arrested in July 2019 on charges of human trafficking for sexual purposes, was declassified and released by US Attorney General Pamela Bondi. At the same time, she asked the FBI to release all information by this morning, without any omission. ‘Phase one’ contains approximately 200 pages of documents on the sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at Epstein’s homes in New York and Florida, among others. These are documents that had previously been leaked, but never officially released by the US government.
“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and is lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices,” Bondi said. “The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s vast network and begins to provide the public with long-awaited accountability,” she added. In a note, the United States Department of Justice expressed its commitment to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents after review to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency he heads is entering a “new era that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.” Therefore, he added, ”there will be no cover-ups, missing documents, and nothing untoward. And anyone, from the past or present Bureau, who compromises this approach will be quickly prosecuted. If there are gaps, we will find them. If documents have been hidden, we will find them. And we will take everything we find to the Justice Department to be fully evaluated and transparently disclosed to the American people, as it should be. Our oath is to the Constitution and, under my leadership, this promise will be kept without compromise,” added Patel.
In early 2019, Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. He was incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. In August 2019, Epstein died by suicide in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court on July 18, 2019, alleged that ”from at least 2002 to 2005, Jeffery Epstein enticed and recruited, and caused others to entice and recruit, dozens of minor girls to visit his residence in New York, New York (the “New York Residence”), and his estate in Palm Beach, Florida (the “Palm Beach Residence”), to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash”.
