US DOJ Reviews Epstein Files as Maxwell Supreme Court Appeal Looms

Jeffrey Epstein-related legal proceedings continue to stir controversy, particularly concerning the release of sealed or redacted materials, which courts control rather than the Department of Justice (DOJ) or Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to Alan Dershowitz. Epstein's plea deal, negotiated by Alexander Acosta—Trump's future Secretary of Labor—unusually protected Epstein's co-conspirators from federal charges, a clause now central to Ghislaine Maxwell's ongoing Supreme Court appeal against her sex trafficking conviction. The Trump administration's DOJ, led by Bondi, faces criticism for refusing to release further Epstein files despite earlier promises, fueling accusations of a cover-up amid the absence of evidence supporting claims of a blackmail scheme involving powerful figures. Maxwell's legal team argues that her prosecution violates the 2008 non-prosecution agreement, but the government maintains the conviction is lawful. The DOJ and FBI's recent review found no incriminating 'client list' or new cases, intensifying backlash from parts of Trump's base and the media. This complex situation underscores tensions between legal constraints, political pressures, and public demands for transparency in the Epstein case.