WASHINGTON, June 1, 2026 — Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., accused President Donald Trump of illegally withholding the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files Monday, calling the administration’s handling of the records an “ongoing cover-up” that dishonors the victims of the convicted sex offender.
“Donald Trump is still illegally withholding the full release of the Epstein files,” Omar wrote on X. “This ongoing cover-up is a disgrace to the victims.”
What Has Been Released — and What Hasn’t
Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, requiring the Justice Department to release its Epstein-related records within 30 days. The DOJ missed that deadline. A first batch was released in December 2025, followed by a major release on January 30, 2026 — more than a month past the statutory deadline — in which Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release of more than 3 million pages of records, including over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.
Blanche said in a statement that “no files are being withheld or redacted on the basis of national security or foreign policy.” The White House said Trump had “done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him” by signing the transparency law and cooperating with congressional subpoenas.
The NPR Investigation — Missing Pages
The administration’s denials were directly challenged by an NPR investigation published February 24, 2026, which found the Justice Department had withheld or removed dozens of pages from the public Epstein files database — specifically pages related to allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor decades ago. NPR reported the missing material includes what appears to be more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from conversations with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse when she was 13 years old.
NPR’s investigation identified the missing pages by cross-referencing unique serial numbers stamped on documents in the Epstein files database, FBI case records, emails, and discovery document logs. One FBI interview with a fleeting mention of Trump was removed from the public database and later restored. Another interview with the woman’s mother — in which she recalled hearing that “a prince and DONALD TRUMP visited EPSTEIN’s house” — remained offline as of publication.
The White House denied the allegations against Trump. “Just as President Trump has said, he’s been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told NPR. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the DOJ’s withholding of information could amount to a crime and announced an investigation into the handling of the missing files.
Trump’s Campaign Promise — and the Reversal
Trump made releasing the Epstein files a central campaign promise in 2024, arguing the government was run by powerful people hiding the truth from Americans. He framed the release as a blow against the elite networks that Epstein’s operation implicated. By early 2026, critics — including Omar — argued that Trump had become one of those powerful figures keeping the public in the dark.
Massie forced a successful discharge petition in the House in January 2026 that compelled the release of the Epstein files over Republican leadership objections — a vote Trump later acknowledged had produced results, even as his DOJ was accused of selectively withholding the portions of those files that referenced the president himself.
NPR estimated there could be well over a million files still unreleased, along with potentially terabytes of data seized from Epstein’s devices and estate, based on 2020 emails between the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
What the Law Requires
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the DOJ to release all Epstein-related records subject to limited exceptions for ongoing prosecutions and victim privacy protections. It also required the DOJ to submit a summary of any redactions made, the categories of documents released and withheld, and a full list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the documents. Critics including Omar argue the administration has not complied with those disclosure requirements in full.
Omar’s characterization of the withholding as “illegal” reflects that argument — that the administration is violating the statutory mandate of the Transparency Act by selectively omitting documents that reference the president. The White House has maintained that all legally required disclosures have been made and that no documents are being withheld improperly.
By
By
