UPDATE: Lawyer and senior writer for Politico, Ankush Khardori, has just called out the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a significant contradiction in its handling of Jeffrey Epstein documents, raising urgent questions about the agency’s competence. During a live segment on CNN this past Saturday, Khardori highlighted discrepancies that he believes have not received the attention they deserve.
In a stunning revelation, the DOJ is currently releasing Epstein-related files in a phased rollout, a process mandated by law. However, last summer, the agency attempted to curtail further investigations into Epstein, claiming it had already reviewed all pertinent files. This assertion was based on a leaked DOJ memo from June 2023. The situation escalated dramatically when, on Christmas Eve 2023, the DOJ announced it had discovered “a million more documents” related to Epstein, necessitating additional time for proper review and redaction.
Khardori posed a critical question on air: How could the DOJ “just find a million new documents”? He underscored the gravity of this inquiry, remarking, “This is an excellent question,” and asserted that the previous claims made by the Trump Justice Department—that all documents had been thoroughly examined—now seem dubious at best.
The newly discovered documents were reportedly delivered to the DOJ from the Southern District of New York, the same district that prosecuted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for sex trafficking offenses. Khardori expressed disbelief at the prospect that such a vast volume of documents could be overlooked, stating, “Incompetence” is the only reasonable explanation.
He elaborated on the implications of this oversight, drawing parallels to corporate responses in similar situations. “If a corporate defendant delayed responding to a subpoena and then claimed they had missed a million documents, the DOJ would react with outrage,” Khardori remarked. “This is a total professionally incompetent endeavor that reflects very poorly on the DOJ under [Pam] Bondi and [Todd] Blanche.”
The urgency of this revelation cannot be overstated, as the DOJ’s handling of such a high-profile case raises concerns not only about the agency’s efficiency but also about the integrity of ongoing investigations into sexual abuse and trafficking. As the situation develops, observers are left questioning the transparency and effectiveness of the DOJ’s operations.
As the public awaits further updates, the fallout from this incident may have lasting implications for the DOJ’s credibility. Lawmakers, advocates, and citizens alike are now calling for increased scrutiny and accountability regarding the agency’s processes moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds, as the implications of these findings continue to reverberate through the legal community and beyond.
