World
February 28, 2025 08:00
washington - Republicans clash over the disappointing release of the Epstein list, demanding more transparency from the FBI.
Controversy Erupts Among Republicans
A heated dispute has arisen among Republicans over the disclosure of the so-called Epstein list.
The highly anticipated release of justice files in the infamous case turned into a disappointment on Thursday. Expected new revelations about the billionaire who was allegedly at the center of a pedophile network involving celebrities, failed to materialize.
Justice officials presented a set of files labeled 'part 1'. Among them was a list of contacts including various celebrities: from Alec Baldwin to Mick Jagger, and from Michael Jackson to the mother of Robert F. Kennedy. However, the list turned out to be a copy of Epstein's 'little black book' of phone contacts, which had already been made public.
Names such as the British Prince Andrew, tech billionaire Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and President Donald Trump were already known to be on the contact list. The phone contacts are separate from any suspicions of involvement in a minor sex network around Epstein, as emphasized in American media.
A 'masseuse list', also released on Thursday, contains 254 names of victims. This list has been completely redacted to protect their identities. Additionally, the disclosed U.S. justice documents include flight records, which were already public knowledge.
In the U.S., there was great anticipation for the release of the Epstein files, which have been surrounded by various conspiracy theories. With little new information forthcoming, Republicans are now arguing amongst themselves over a perceived lack of promised transparency. Attorney General Bondi is demanding that the FBI releases thousands of documents by Friday, which she claims are being withheld by the local office in New York.
The fact that the available files were initially shared on Thursday with a group of conservative influencers had already raised eyebrows. Some have been promoting the content on social media as earth-shattering, but it turned out to be far from that.
In addition to Attorney General Bondi, Republican members of Congress are also furious. They recently established an investigative committee to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious files, ranging from UFOs to the assassination of President Kennedy. The Epstein issue was also one of the topics.
The chairwoman of the relevant Congressional committee, lawmaker Anna Luna, expressed her indignation on Thursday at not being consulted about the released documents. She scathingly added that the disclosed documents are simply 'Epstein's phone book'. 'This is not what we or the American people asked for,' Luna raged on social media.
The question now is whether Republicans will be able to provide the information later that will satisfactorily answer the conspiracy theories that they themselves have helped to fuel.