American Oversight Opposes Government Effort to Erase Key Facts in Records Case on Trump FBI Epstein Investigation Interview
Trump Administration Trying to Hide Its Own Public Comments in Suit Challenging FBI’s Refusal to Confirm Whether President Was Interviewed About Epstein
On Friday, we opposed the Trump administration’s motion to strike factual allegations from our lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seeking any interview records of the president in connection with the government’s investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Thus far, the FBI has refused to confirm or deny the existence of such records, citing privacy concerns — even though Trump’s ties to Epstein and Maxwell are a matter of longstanding and widespread public record.
“If the president of the United States was questioned by federal investigators in the Epstein case, the American people have a right to know,” said our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu. “Instead of making good on its promise to be the most transparent administration, the Trump administration is asking the court to erase its own public statements about the Epstein investigation from the record to stymie our litigation and delay the release of basic facts. That is a slap in the face to the victims and an insult to the public’s right to the truth.”
In the court filing opposing the administration’s motion to strike, we explained that the challenged allegations are grounded in public statements by President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel, a joint DOJ–FBI memorandum describing the administration’s review of Epstein-related materials, a letter from Senator Richard Durbin, and extensive public reporting on Trump’s relationship with Epstein. The filing explains that this factual background is directly relevant to evaluating the FBI’s refusal to confirm or deny the existence of responsive records.
Our underlying Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request specifically sought FBI 302s and other records memorializing interviews of Trump during the Epstein investigation. After the FBI issued a “Glomar” response during the first Trump Administration — neither confirming nor denying the existence of responsive records — we appealed to the DOJ’s Office of Information Policy, which upheld the FBI’s refusal. Having exhausted all administrative remedies, we are now seeking judicial intervention.
Last month, we opposed a similar government motion in our lawsuit seeking records on the DOJ and the FBI’s politicized review of files related to Epstein. The litigation was sparked when the agencies failed to produce records responsive to FOIA requests seeking guidance, instructions, and internal communications related to the administration’s claimed “exhaustive review” of Epstein investigative materials.
In July 2020, we filed a FOIA request for FBI Form 302s — reports used by agents to summarize witness interviews — and related records documenting any interviews of Trump during the 2006–2008 investigation. That investigation resulted in a controversial non-prosecution agreement with Epstein that was negotiated by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who later served in Trump’s first cabinet. Again, the FBI has refused to confirm or deny the existence of such records.
Maxwell, who in 2021 was found guilty of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse and exploit underage girls, was recently moved to a lower-security federal prison in Texas by the Trump administration. The transfer came just days after she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as one of Trump’s personal criminal defense attorneys. In 2020, when asked by a reporter whether he expected Maxwell to reveal the names of powerful men tied to Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking ring, Trump replied that he didn’t know and added, “I just wish her well.”
The government’s latest request to erase facts from the public record comes amid continued revelations of Trump’s connections to Epstein, including reports that Trump’s name appeared repeatedly in internal government reviews of Epstein-related records and that Trump personally wrote and illustrated a suggestive note included in a book given to Epstein. While Trump has publicly downplayed his relationship with Epstein, he acknowledged in 2002 that Epstein was a “terrific guy” who enjoyed the company of “beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”