New US Attorney General Pam Bondi has teased America with the release of something huge in connection to Jeffrey Epstein. So far, she has not delivered.
Bondi told Fox’s Jesse Watters on Wednesday, February 26, that she had 200 pages on her desk for review and that it would “make you sick.” She even called it “breaking news.” The big release planned for Thursday, February 27, was supposed to be something that would reveal how far the influential billionaire and convicted sex offender’s particular brand of rot extended and force others who abused young women and children to face justice, no matter how influential they may be – not just flight logs and redacted lists that reveal little and prove less.
But when the Department of Justice finally released “Phase 1” of what it calls “The Epstein Files,” it was predominantly just redacted lists, some contacts from Epstein’s phone, and flight logs that, for the most part, had already been made public during earlier investigations.
Dropping the Bomb, or Bombing the Drop?
As if to foreshadow the disappointing contents of “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” a group of 15 conservative influencers emerged from the White House on Thursday to pose for cringeworthy photos with their binders. None of them immediately made public the full contents of said binders – nor did the administration. It was only later that the DOJ officially released the information to the public – and, lo and behold, there wasn’t anything new of much substance.
Of the ten files published, one was a partially redacted contact book; one was a list of items confiscated as evidence during the investigation; one was a 254-item numbered list under the heading “Masseuses” that was entirely redacted – as in, one big block of black beside a long column of numbers. And the other seven were flight logs, most of which had already been made public years ago.
In short, Pam Bondi didn’t drop the “breaking news” bombshell she had teased to Jesse Watters; she bombed what should have been a revealing document drop.
“THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) wrote on X after the big reveal Thursday evening. “GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!”
“Something about this Epstein release doesn’t feel authentic,” wrote Candace Owens. “Why do we need ‘phases’ of the release and why not just release it to the entire public at large to comb through?”
More Questions Than Answers After Epstein Files Phase 1
“The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability,” AG Bondi wrote in a statement. But does it?
The current “release” – perhaps it makes more sense to call it a “re-release” – left many wanting answers. Liz Wheeler, one of the 15 who received an early access binder, went on X later in the day and described the contents, explaining for anyone hoping for something new, “that’s not what’s in” the folder. Jessica Reed Kraus, another of the group, explained that Bondi personally delivered the documents in a group meeting that included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Also included in the chosen 15 were Jack Posobiec, Scott Presler, “DC_Draio” Rogan O’Handley, and “LibsofTikTok” Chaya Raichik. Why was any document release first handed off to social media influencers to tease out on their respective platforms after prancing about in front of the cameras with their binders?
In this case, specifically, why have a “release” if there’s really nothing new? The flight logs and contact book were already public. The list of items confiscated doesn’t reveal much, and the list of “Masseuse” gives absolutely no information aside from the fact that there were 254 of them. Even if these names are victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking – and it seems likely they are, as he was known to make his victims give him and his friends massages – why waste the paper and ink when it would be just as informative to simply say that there is a list of 254 names that the DOJ suspects are victims? As Candace Owens asked, why not release everything all at once for the public to look at?
Perhaps the bigger question at this point, however, is what else is coming? According to the attorney general, an FBI whistleblower informed her that the bureau had withheld thousands of pages that were not previously disclosed. She wrote a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting that everything be delivered to her by 8 a.m. Friday. She also tasked the new director with investigating why those documents weren’t handed over to begin with. So, was Phase 1, which Bondi described in her statement as “previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity,” simply the introductory summary of what we already know – a sort of “previously on” message for the whole series to come? What will Phase 2 contain, and when will we get it?
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