Washington D.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) redacted the name of Donald Trump and numerous other prominent public figures from documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, citing privacy protections for individuals who were private citizens at the time of the initial investigation. This revelation, initially reported by Bloomberg, comes amidst ongoing public scrutiny and calls for transparency regarding the extensive Epstein files.
According to three individuals familiar with the matter, an FBI Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) team undertook the redactions earlier this year as they prepared the documents for potential public release. The decision to withhold these names was based on standard FOIA case law, which allows for the redaction of personal information to prevent "clearly unwarranted invasions of personal privacy" and to protect "personal information in law enforcement records."
The broader context of the Epstein files has seen significant developments, including the unsealing of thousands of pages of court documents in early 2024. These documents, largely stemming from a defamation lawsuit against Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, mentioned various high-profile individuals, though not all were accused of wrongdoing. The unsealings have fueled public interest in Epstein's network and his connections to powerful figures.
Donald Trump's name has previously appeared in Epstein's contact book and flight logs, reflecting a historical association between the two. Despite this, the Justice Department and FBI issued a joint statement in July, asserting that an exhaustive review found no evidence of a "client list" or information linking Trump to criminal activity, and concluded that no further disclosure of documents was appropriate or warranted. Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly informed Trump in May that his name was present in the files.
The news of these redactions, as highlighted by journalist Jonathan Lemire in a recent tweet, has intensified public debate and criticism from those demanding full transparency. Critics argue that such redactions, even if legally permissible, contribute to a lack of public trust and hinder a complete understanding of the Epstein saga. The FBI and Justice Department have largely declined further comment on the specific redactions, emphasizing their adherence to legal guidelines.