Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann launched a scathing critique on Friday, targeting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's claim that former President Donald Trump had long sought to make all Jeffrey Epstein-related documents public. Weissmann dismissed the assertion as "outrageous" and a transparent attempt to mislead Trump's political base.
A 'Huge Joke' Aimed at the MAGA Base
Appearing on MSNBC's MS NOW with host Nicolle Wallace, Weissmann did not mince words. "To me, this is just a huge joke that is basically treating the MAGA base as a bunch of fools," he stated. Weissmann pointed to Trump's time in office as definitive proof against Blanche's claim, arguing the former president had ample opportunity to act. "If [Trump] wanted to do it, he could have done it on day one of his presidency and he hasn't," Weissmann emphasized.
The controversy stems from Trump's shifting stance. While he expressed openness to releasing the files during his 2016 campaign, his administration later resisted congressional efforts to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose its records on the late convicted sex offender, ultimately relenting under pressure.
DOJ Faces Accusations of Lawbreaking Over Partial Release
The legal battle reached a new peak on Friday, the deadline by which the DOJ was legally mandated to release all unclassified material related to Epstein. Instead, in an interview with Fox News, Todd Blanche indicated the department would only make public "several hundred thousand" documents by the deadline, promising more "over the next couple of weeks."
This staggered approach has drawn fierce bipartisan condemnation. Democrats and some Republicans have accused the DOJ of failing to comply with the law. Critics also highlight the department's use of heavy and unexplained redactions across hundreds of pages of the released material.
Weissmann: Admission of Violation and Hidden Stories
For Andrew Weissmann, Blanche's statement about future releases is a damning admission. He argues it openly acknowledges the administration is currently in "violation of the law." Weissmann stressed that the focus is now shifting from what has been released to what remains concealed. "A 'huge part' of the Epstein story is now what material the DOJ is not producing," he concluded, suggesting the true narrative lies in the documents being withheld from the public.
The unfolding situation places the Department of Justice under intense scrutiny, as it balances legal obligations with the political sensitivities surrounding one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent memory.
