Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the second-highest official in the Justice Department, has denied any effort to redact President Donald Trump’s name from recently released files related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In an interview with ABC News, Blanche stated that there was “no effort” to hold back information about Trump or other notable individuals.
Blanche’s comments come after thousands of files were released by the department, which included images of former President Bill Clinton without context, sparking controversy and accusations of selective disclosure. The White House and Clinton’s spokesperson denied any wrongdoing, claiming the department dumped the files late on a Friday to protect the former president.
Blanche defended the department’s decision not to release all of the Epstein files immediately, citing the need to protect victims’ identities and comply with the law. He also denied that Trump was involved in the decision-making process regarding his associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a lower security prison facility.
The Deputy Attorney General also confirmed that investigations into former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James are ongoing, despite recent setbacks in their cases. Blanche rejected any suggestion that the prosecution was “vindictive,” emphasizing that the department is simply investigating evidence and following the law.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-doj-official-denies-effort-redact-mentions-president/story?id=128574448