The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to lawmakers describing redactions made in files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Politico reported Saturday.
The letter, required by law, provides a general explanation of the types of redactions and includes a list of notable individuals mentioned in the records.
It also contains an extensive list of high-profile people, described as “politically exposed persons,” who are referenced in the files, even if they had no known interaction with Epstein or his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Some names appear only in materials such as press clippings, and the letter does not specify the context in which individuals are mentioned.
“Names appear in the files released under the Act in a wide variety of contexts,” the letter states. “For example, some individuals had extensive direct email contact with Epstein or Maxwell, while other individuals are mentioned only in a portion of a document (including press reporting) that on its face is unrelated to the Epstein or Maxwell matters.”
The letter says the department released all records in its possession that relate to Epstein, in accordance with the requirements of the law and related court orders in the Southern District of New York.
It also states that no records were withheld or redacted “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Material from Reuters was used in this story.
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