DOJ says review shows no 'credible evidence' of Epstein blackmailing prominent figures

WASHINGTON, DC: The Justice Department says it still has no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein blackmailed prominent figures, even as it continues reviewing hundreds of thousands of government-held documents connected to his case.

On Friday, December 19, the DOJ made public thousands of documents from the Epstein files, marking the first disclosures under a new law signed by President Trump that requires their release.

The disclosure included roughly 3,900 files, primarily photograph, which are available on the DOJ’s website in a section titled 'Epstein Files Transparency Act.'

Justice Department finds no evidence of Epstein blackmail

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote to Congress, "This review did not reveal credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals."

He continued, "Nor did it uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”

When asked earlier on Fox News whether additional charges could be expected, even after Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced and is currently serving federal prison time, Blanche replied, “As of now, no.”

He further said “As the president directed, it’s still being investigated. And I expect that will continue to happen. So, we, as of today, there is no new charges coming.”

The Act required the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files in its possession by Friday, with exceptions for survivors’ personal information and other limited categories.

However, Blanche told lawmakers that the sheer 'volume of materials' means the files will need to be released 'on a rolling basis.'

Both the Department of Justice and the FBI previously issued a memo stating Epstein did not maintain a 'client list' of powerful people.

Howard Lutnick’s allegations on Jeffrey Epstein

In contrast to the department’s official stance, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made highly publicized statements characterizing Jeffrey Epstein as 'the greatest blackmailer ever.'

In an interview with the New York Post’s Miranda Devine, Lutnick alleged that Epstein may have traded incriminating video footage of his associates with federal authorities in exchange for a lenient 2008 plea deal.

But Lutnick acknowledged, that he had 'no knowledge' of the matter and did not offer any evidence to support his claim.

Lutnick, who lived near Epstein in Manhattan in 2005, recounted a disturbing encounter at Epstein’s townhouse in which he showed him and his wife a room centered around a 'massage table' and made a suggestive comment.

Lutnick said he and his wife left deciding he would 'never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.'

He then stated, "what happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video.”

He suggested that such material could have been used to secure Epstein’s controversial plea deal, which allowed him to serve only 18 months on state charges and avoid federal prosecution.

Lutnick then bluntly reiterated, “This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever, blackmailed people. That’s how he had money.”