Former President Donald Trump has publicly demanded that the US Justice Department disclose the identities of all Democrats allegedly connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump's Accusations and 'Witch Hunt' Claims
In a significant escalation of the political rhetoric surrounding the Epstein scandal, Trump characterised the ongoing focus on the case as a "witch hunt" and a "Democrat inspired hoax." He asserted that individuals from the Democratic Party, not Republicans, were primarily involved with Epstein. The former president further suggested that the Justice Department's resources would be better spent investigating matters such as election fraud instead.
Release of Redacted Files and New Document Discovery
This demand follows the administration's initial release of a batch of Epstein-related documents on 19 December. That release was met with widespread criticism due to the extensive redactions that obscured many names and details.
In a subsequent development, Justice Department officials confirmed they had uncovered over a million additional documents that are potentially linked to the Epstein investigation. Authorities stated that reviewing and preparing this vast new trove of material for public release will take several weeks.
Political Reactions and Next Steps
The call from Trump intensifies the political battle over the Epstein files, which have long been shrouded in secrecy and speculation involving high-profile figures. The former president's direct challenge to the Justice Department places renewed pressure on officials to accelerate transparency, even as they grapple with the monumental task of processing the newly found evidence. The world now awaits the department's next move and the potential revelations contained within the over one million documents awaiting review.
