NPR Report Reveals Missing FBI Interviews
The US Department of Justice has withheld key files linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The missing records reportedly include allegations against Donald Trump. The claims involve alleged sexual abuse of a minor decades ago.
The report was first published by National Public Radio. According to NPR, dozens of catalogued pages were not released to the public. The documents were reportedly marked for disclosure under federal transparency laws.
Among the missing records are more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes. These files involve a woman who accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was a minor. The alleged incidents date back several decades.
The Justice Department declined to answer NPR’s detailed questions on the record. Officials said any withheld documents are privileged or duplicates. They also stated that some materials relate to ongoing federal investigations.
The allegations are connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His case has remained the subject of public scrutiny and legal battles.
House Oversight Democrats Launch Investigation
The controversy has triggered political reaction in Washington. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, confirmed discrepancies in the released files. Garcia said his staff reviewed the DOJ’s public database.
In a public statement, Garcia said the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews. He described the allegations as serious and deeply troubling. He also announced a parallel congressional investigation into the DOJ’s handling of the records.
The White House responded to NPR’s report. A spokesperson said Trump has been “totally exonerated” regarding matters linked to Epstein. The statement added that Trump has supported transparency and cooperated with Congress.
One allegation detailed in internal FBI documents involves a woman who was about 13 years old in 1983. She claimed Epstein introduced her to Trump. She alleged that Trump assaulted her during that encounter. According to the report, she said he struck her when she resisted.
While this claim appears in internal FBI lists and slideshows, related interviews are missing from the public archive. Court logs from the criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell show the FBI interviewed the woman four times.
Only the first interview is available in the public database. That interview does not mention Trump by name. The woman’s attorney reportedly cropped a photograph of Epstein out of fear of retaliation. FBI agents noted the original image showed Epstein with Trump.
Additional Documents Removed and Restored
Other missing records involve a key witness in Maxwell’s trial. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking.
The witness testified that she met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club as a minor. She alleged she was being abused by Epstein at the time. According to the FBI interview, Epstein allegedly introduced her to Trump and made a suggestive remark. The two men reportedly laughed.
NPR reported that the FBI interview detailing this account was temporarily removed from the public database. It was later restored. However, an interview with the witness’s mother remains unavailable.
Robert Glassman, an attorney representing one of the Maxwell trial witnesses, criticized the DOJ’s document release process. He said the department was ordered to ensure transparency about Epstein and Maxwell’s network. Instead, he argued, victims’ names were released while key investigative records were withheld.
A DOJ spokesperson told NPR the department is reviewing redaction concerns raised by victims. Officials said the large volume of records may have led to accidental disclosure of sensitive information. They added that efforts are underway to correct any errors.
The issue continues to raise questions about transparency, accountability, and the handling of high-profile federal investigations.
