Why Kash Patel’s FBI Released Only 100 Pages Of Sex Offender Epstein’s Files Minus The ‘Pretty Sick’ Details

Last Updated:February 28, 2025, 14:33 IST

Trump’s Name In Flight Log, Alec Baldwin, Naomi Campbell In Address Book: Why has US Attorney General Pam Bondi launched an investigation stating the FBI is allegedly withholding thousands of Epstein documents? What's the outrage on the Internet?

(From left) FBI chief Kash Patel, sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and US Attorney General Pam Bondi. (AP File)

Even though Kash Patel promised a “new era" for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under his leadership, his agency is entangled in an old allegation yet again – only 100 of the thousands of pages of files on a case, this time related to American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein called ‘The Epstein Files: Phase I’, have been released.

United States (US) Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched an investigation stating that a source has claimed that the FBI field office in New York is allegedly withholding thousands of Epstein documents, leaving netizens outraged and coming up with their own theories.

THE ‘NEW ERA’ PROMISE

Patel on February 28 posted on X: “The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be. The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise."

BONDI’s LETTER

In a letter, which was also posted on X, Bondi said, “I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents…Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein…Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information."

WHO IS JEFFREY EPSTEIN?

Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier built a fortune through his financial dealings. He surrounded himself with influential figures, including former US presidents, British royalty and Hollywood stars.

In 2008, he pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges in Florida and in turn served only a 13-month programme, which was criticised.

In 2019, Epstein was arrested again on charges of running a vast network of sex trafficking and abuse of minors. He was found dead in his cell in Manhattan a year later. It was termed a suicide.

THE 100 PAGES CONTAIN…

The released files contain:

Flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, ‘The Lolita Express’: Publicly available for years, they were redacted. Trump’s name appears multiple times in the records, with documented flights from Palm Beach to Washington, D.C., accompanied by his then-wife Marla Maples, their daughter Tiffany Trump, and a nanny. However, the logs do not indicate any illegal activity or new revelation.A heavily redacted address book linked to Epstein and his British socialite girlfriend and sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell. It has big names such as Michael Jackson, Ethel Kennedy, mother of Robert F Kennedy Jr, supermodel Naomi Campbell, musician Courtney Love, Mick Jagger and actor Alec Baldwin.A blacked-out list of masseuses, along with evidence lists that mentioned entries for over 150 items, including nude images, massage tables, sex toys, and other items.A 1990s contact list containing 349 names, 221 of which were not in the 2015 release. It included figures such as President Donald Trump, media personalities Chris Cuomo and Christie Hefner, investor Carl Icahn, and New York Jets co-owner Suzanne Ircha. The list mentions the contact details of the names. Officials said that the disclosed list is not the list of clients but rather a collection of contacts that Epstein had in his possession.The DOJ also released a blacked-out list of masseuses and an evidence list that mentioned entries for over 150 items, including nude images, massage tables, sex toys, and other items. However, there was no indication whether the list was from Epstein’s or Maxwell’s case.

WHAT IS MISSING?

A section of the binder containing victims’ names was removed.

During an interview on Jesse Watters Primetime, Bondi had earlier hinted at the impending release of more Epstein documents, saying the material government possesses is “pretty sick, and will make you sick".

WHY THE COVER-UP?

There is no disclosure on if and why the FBI withheld these documents.

The files that were released before included a 2016 interview where an accuser talked about spending several hours with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic City casino, Associated Press reported.

Trump has also said that he once thought Epstein was a “terrific guy," but they later stopped getting along. In 2023, The Associated Press also got thousands of pages of documents that revealed details about the last days of Epstein’s life at a closed federal jail in Manhattan.

THE CRITICISM

Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna said on X: “GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR! This rollout is a complete disappointment. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!"

Republican Congressman Eric Swalwell said on X: “You were promised the full Epstein files. You got this."

Senator Marsha Blackburn had earlier said on X: “Epstein’s client list and the information I requested to reveal his associates & business dealings are key to helping us crack this trafficking ring wide open."

WHAT WAS ALREADY KNOWN

Epstein’s “little black book" first surfaced in a 2009 court case and was leaked by Gawker in 2015. That edition, covering 2004–2005, included names like Prince Andrew, Governor Andrew Cuomo, industrialist David Koch, singer Jimmy Buffett, former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and ex-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

A separate 1990s contact list contained 349 names, 221 of which were not in the 2015 release. It included figures such as President Donald Trump, media personalities Chris Cuomo and Christie Hefner, investor Carl Icahn, and New York Jets co-owner Suzanne Ircha.

A physical copy of Epstein’s 1990s contact book was found in New York’s East Village and later sold on eBay for $425 to Vermont teacher Christopher Helali.

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