#justicedepartment

undefined | Letters to the Editor: Melania Trump deserves credit for calling for hearings with Epstein's victims When Melania Trump took the podium in the White House’s Grand Foyer on Thursday, she called for congressional hearings that would allow the victims of Jeffrey Epstein to tell their stories. Her statement marked a stark reversal of earlier messages from the White House and the Justice Department that the Epstein case was “closed.” President Trump, when asked if he knew what his wife would say, replied that he “didn’t know anything about it,” a remark that underscored the growing disconnect within the administration about how to handle the scandal. The significance of Melania’s appeal lies in its focus on the victims themselves. If House Republicans act on her urging and convene the hearings, they will be entering a realm the current administration has tried to avoid, but one that could finally give Epstein’s survivors a platform for their testimony. Advocates argue that the hearings should remain centered on hearing these voices, and they credit the first lady for daring to bring the issue back to the national conversation, even as critics lament that the president appears less clear‑headed on the matter. Commentators note that the truth about any personal connection between Melania Trump and Epstein may never be known, yet the controversy has rekindled public interest in a story that had been eclipsed by the ongoing Iran war. Denny Freidenrich of Laguna Beach praised Melania for her courageous stance, while Ken Derow of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, observed that the first lady’s press conference has revived attention to an Epstein scandal her husband seems eager to bury, raising questions about who benefits from the renewed scrutiny. Read more: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2026-04-11/melania-trump-jeffrey-epstein #melaniatrump #jeffreyepstein #whitehouse #justicedepartment #epstein

undefined | Former attorney general Pam Bondi will not testify on Epstein files next week, justice department says Pam Bondi, the former U.S. attorney general, will not appear for the April 14 deposition the House Oversight Committee scheduled to question her about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The department informed the committee that Bondi was “subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General,” but she was removed from that post by President Donald Trump the week before, leaving her without the authority to comply. Committee staff confirmed to the BBC that Bondi will not testify next week. Republican member Nancy Mace argued that the subpoena still obliges Bondi to appear, noting that her loss of the attorney‑general title “does not erase her obligation to testify and does not end Congressional oversight.” She urged committee chairman James Comer to publicly reaffirm Bondi’s legal duty to be deposed. Democratic ranking member Robert Garcia echoed this demand, warning that if Bondi defies the subpoena the committee will pursue contempt charges. Bondi has not issued a statement on the matter. The subpoena, issued earlier this year, sought answers about possible mismanagement of the Justice Department’s probe into Epstein and the release of related documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers have pressed for full disclosure of the millions of files the agency released, after criticism that some survivor information was redacted and that non‑victim identities were protected. The committee has already secured testimony from high‑profile figures such as the Clintons and has scheduled Bill Gates to testify in June, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expected to appear soon. Read more: undefined #pambondi #justicedepartment #houseoversightcommittee #jeffreyepstein #donaldtrump

bing news | Pam Bondi Backs Out Of Deposition On Jeffrey Epstein Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is refusing to sit for a deposition scheduled for April 14 before the House Oversight Committee that is investigating the government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein. The committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R‑Ky.), issued a subpoena to Bondi after a bipartisan vote—five Republicans joined all Democrats—to demand her testimony in her capacity as attorney general. The Justice Department, however, told the panel that Bondi need not appear because she was fired by President Donald Trump the previous month, arguing that the subpoena “no longer applies” after the leadership transition. Committee members dispute that justification. They note that former attorneys general who left office were still required to provide sworn statements, and only former AG Bill Barr was allowed a transcribed interview. Under Bondi’s tenure, the Justice Department struggled to meet the statutory deadline for releasing the Epstein files, mistakenly redacting documents and withholding others. The released material included a 2003 birthday message from Trump to Epstein and an FBI file alleging an unverified claim that Trump sexually assaulted a minor in the 1980s, while some files remain hidden. Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the committee say Bondi’s departure does not excuse her from accountability. Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑S.C.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D‑Calif.) urged Comer to enforce the subpoena, warning that failure to appear could lead to a contempt finding. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D‑Va.) echoed the call, stating that the subpoena “did not become null and void when she was fired” and that Bondi must comply with the law. Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pam-bondi-backs-out-epstein-deposition_n_69d67247e4b048dba44a32fd #pambondi #jeffreyepstein #houseoversightcommittee #justicedepartment #donaldtrump

yahoo news | Lauren Boebert Trolls Pam Bondi With Reference To One Particularly Unhinged... Rep. Lauren Boebert (R‑Colo.) mocked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on X shortly after President Donald Trump dismissed her. Boebert, a longtime critic of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, seized on Bondi’s departure to highlight what she called an “unhinged” moment from the attorney general’s recent appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. During the February hearing, Bondi went “mega‑viral” when she defended her department’s work on the Epstein investigation by bragging that the Dow Jones Industrial Average had broken the 50,000‑point barrier. “The Dow right now is over — the Dow is over 50,000,” she announced, prompting laughter from committee members and an outpouring of ridicule on social media. Boebert, who was one of only four Republicans to back a discharge petition forcing the full release of the Epstein documents, used the incident to underscore her anger over the Justice Department’s “botched” handling of the case. Her post, “DOW fell below 50,000?” was a jab at Bondi’s momentary triumph and a reminder that the former attorney general’s tenure ended amid controversy and criticism. Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/lauren-boebert-trolls-pam-bondi-202457381.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall #laurenboebert #pambondi #jeffreyepstein #justicedepartment #housejudiciarycommittee

bing news | Bill Gates’ pal Boris Nikolic asked Jeffrey Epstein for ‘nude’ pics of ‘hot girls,’ bantered about strippers Bill Gates’ longtime science adviser, Boris Nikolic, was found in a cache of Justice Department‑released emails asking Jeffrey Epstein for “nude or semi‑nude” pictures of “hot girls” and trading crude, sexualized comments about women and strippers. The correspondence, dated between 2011 and 2014, shows Nikolic requesting images from Epstein’s “modeling days,” joking about arranging a Victoria Secret shoot, and even mentioning a birthday cake that would contain “stripers” (sic). One exchange even includes a purported comment from Gates after a dinner, describing a woman as looking “much hotter tonight” and noting she “touched him under table ;)”. Bloomberg noted that the emails contain no evidence that Gates or Nikolic were aware of Epstein’s sex‑crime convictions, and Gates has repeatedly denied ever visiting Epstein’s private Caribbean island or having any illicit contact with his victims. The emails also reveal that Epstein invited Nikolic to the island in December 2011, to which Nikolic replied that he would come with “Rosemary and Linda.” Gates has said the relationship with Epstein began in 2011, after the financier’s 2008 guilty plea, and was initially framed around philanthropy and global‑health funding before being cut off when no charitable donations materialized. The newly released messages add detail to the troubled period in Gates’ personal and professional life, showing how Epstein tried to insert himself into Gates’ orbit through Nikolic, who acted as a go‑between for meetings and messages. While Gates acknowledges two extramarital affairs and claims Epstein later learned of them, he insists he “did nothing illicit” with Epstein and has dismissed the email claims of deeper involvement as false. The Post has sought comment from Gates and Nikolic. Read more: https://nypost.com/2026/03/27/business/bill-gates-pal-boris-nikolic-asked-jeffrey-epstein-for-nude-pics-of-hot-girls-bantered-about-strippers/ #billgates #borisnikolic #jeffreyepstein #justicedepartment #victoriasecret

yahoo news | Epstein survivors sue government, Google over release of personal info A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors has filed a class‑action lawsuit in federal court in California accusing the Trump administration and Google of illegally disclosing their personal information. The suit alleges that the Justice Department’s release of more than three million pages of “Epstein Files” – mandated by the 2023 Epstein Files Transparency Act – included unredacted names, phone numbers, birthdates and photos of nearly 100 victims. Although the department later removed the most sensitive files, the plaintiffs claim Google and other online platforms republished the data and ignored repeated removal requests, exposing them to continued harassment, threats and renewed trauma. According to the complaint, the Justice Department initially posted the records in late 2025 and early 2026, revealing videos, court documents, FBI files, emails, text messages and news clippings that also mentioned high‑profile figures such as former President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Elon Musk and Bill Gates. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department reviewed roughly six million pages and released about half, withholding material that contained survivors’ identifying details. The survivors argue that the government’s “release‑now, retract‑later” approach prioritized speed over victim safety and made the unlawful disclosure of personal data inevitable. The plaintiffs are seeking at least $1,000 per class member from the government and an unspecified amount of damages from Google. They contend that, despite the Justice Department’s acknowledgment that unredacted documents remain publicly accessible on sites hosted by Google, the government has taken no action to compel their removal. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing harm caused to Epstein’s victims by the continued availability of their private information online. Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/epstein-survivors-sue-government-google-140222287.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall #jeffreyepstein #epsteinsurvivors #google #justicedepartment #epsteinfilestransparencyact

qwant news | Epstein survivor who voted for Trump says she now fears ’we’re not going to get justice’ Jena‑Lisa Jones, an Epstein survivor who was abused at age 14, held a photo of her younger self at a news conference outside the US Capitol on 18 November 2025. After casting her vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, she explained that she supported him because he promised to release the long‑sought Jeffrey Epstein files, a promise that gave her and many other survivors hope for a “day in court.” In a recent interview on the Shadow Sessions podcast, Jones reiterated that her vote was driven by the expectation of transparency and accountability for the crimes tied to Epstein’s network.\n\nSince Trump’s inauguration, Jones says the promised release of the files never materialised and the administration later dismissed further disclosures as a “Democratic hoax.” The Justice Department has since refused to release additional records, prompting Jones to fear that “we’re not going to get justice in all of this.” She described the backlash survivors face—death threats, hostile commentary—and stressed that each story she shares and every young girl who reaches out reinforces her resolve to keep speaking out, even without seeing her own FBI interview files among the limited disclosures.\n\nIn November, Jones and other survivors gathered outside the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass legislation demanding the DOJ release all Epstein‑related records. Trump eventually signed the bill into law on 19 November, and the DOJ has since published several batches of documents, including about three million records in January. However, survivors claim crucial files—especially those documenting their FBI interviews—remain missing or redacted, and Jones confirms she has yet to locate her own files. Despite these setbacks, she remains committed to advocating for the victims and demanding that the remaining perpetrators be brought to justice. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/26/trump-voter-epstein-survivor #jena-lisajones #donaldtrump #jeffreyepstein #justicedepartment #fbi

yahoo news | Trump’s DOJ Shredded ‘Huge’ Pile of Epstein Docs After Death by undefined Less than a week after disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in a New York jail, a Justice Department “After‑Actions” team from the Bureau of Prisons entered the Metropolitan Correctional Center, collected and shredded “huge amounts of paperwork.” According to a redacted FBI report, bags of shredded documents were loaded into a dumpster at the rear gate, with at least one inmate allegedly assisting in the disposal. The report notes that officials from the Assistant Inspector General’s office, the FBI and the BOP were present as the team shredded the files and that the dumpster was scheduled for pickup the following Monday, prompting concerns that potentially crucial evidence was being destroyed during an ongoing investigation. Epstein’s death, officially ruled a suicide, has spawned numerous conspiracy theories. Newly released surveillance footage shows two prison guards walking near Epstein’s cell the night of his death, apparently chatting on phones instead of conducting mandatory 3 a.m. rounds, and later falsifying logs to claim they had checked on him. Then‑Attorney General William Barr said he was “appalled” by the circumstances, while the DOJ quickly instructed the New York City Police Department to stand down its investigation and asked New Mexico authorities to suspend a probe into Epstein’s Zorro Ranch property, which is alleged to be a burial site for two foreign girls. Public demand for the Epstein files grew after the FBI and DOJ announced that Epstein did not possess a “client list” and that his death was a suicide. President Trump, who maintained a long‑standing friendship with Epstein, dismissed the documents as a “Democrat hoax” and urged his supporters to “move on.” The DOJ eventually released about half of the files—roughly 3.5 million documents—many heavily redacted but containing thousands of references to Trump and other high‑profile figures, a release that has continued to fuel intense political scrutiny and debate. Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-doj-shredded-huge-pile-161908728.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall #trump #doj #epstein #justicedepartment #fbi

Agenzia Nova: Usa: giudice blocca indagini dipartimento Giustizia su presidente Fed Powell, "non ci sono prove" 13 mar 20:26 - (Agenzia Nova) - Il giudice federale James Boasberg, capo giudice del Tribunale distrettuale degli Stati Uniti di Washington,... (Was) Judge blocks Justice Department investigation into Fed Chairman Powell, “there are no grounds” 13 Mar 20:26 - (Agenzia Nova) - U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Washington,... (Was) #JusticeDepartment #Powell #AgenziaNova #DistrictCourt #JamesBoasberg https://www.agenzianova.com/a/69b465733ba315.57902742/7142827/2026-03-13/usa-giudice-blocca-indagini-dipartimento-giustizia-su-presidente-fed-powell-non-ci-sono-prove

The Justice Department has finalized new regulations that effectively eliminate the use of “disparate impact” analysis—a key tool for proving racial discrimination based on statistical disparities—marking a significant rollback of civil rights protections. These regulations, issued without public comment, narrow the ability of government and private entities to be investigated or sued for policies that unintentionally cause racial disparities, focusing instead on intent-based discrimination. The move aligns with conservative arguments that discrimination should only be proven through explicit intent, rather than data showing unequal impact. Critics warn that this shift could weaken efforts to address systemic racial inequities, as it makes it significantly harder to challenge policies that unintentionally disadvantage marginalized groups. More here: https://wapo.st/4s2l6iC #CivilRights #DisparateImpact #JusticeDepartment #RacialJustice #RegulatoryChange #LegalPolicy #discrimination