FBI Director Kash Patel faced intense questioning from Congress over the handling and release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his second day of hearings.
The session was marked by Patel’s repeated refusals to directly answer whether President Donald Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files, as well as attempts by some Democratic lawmakers to portray him as a hypocrite.
“Why are you not going to a court, like you did for the grand jury testimony?” Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman asked Patel in a line of questioning related to whether grand jury orders allowed the FBI to release more materials. “You are hiding the Epstein files, Mr. Patel. You are part of the cover-up.”
Patel vowed to release everything it was “legally permitted” to during the hearing.
Read more: Trump and Epstein Photos Projected Onto Windsor Castle
The files have stirred controversy even among loyal MAGA supporters, especially after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump allegedly wrote Epstein a letter for his 50th birthday. The President has denied writing the letter and filed a lawsuit against the Journal’s parent companies, Dow Jones and News Corp, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters.
Earlier this month, the House Oversight Committee released the birthday letter, which features the silhouette of a woman.
Here’s what Patel has said so far about the Epstein files:
Patel refused answer questions about Trump and the Epstein files
During the hearing, Patel evaded questions from Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California about whether Trump’s name appears in the files. He said he has never spoken to the President about the files themselves.
Patel also declined to say whether he had informed the Attorney General if the President’s name is included in the files.
There’s “no credible information” that Epstein trafficked girls to anyone besides himself
For years, conspiracy theories have suggested Epstein trafficked victims to other wealthy or influential figures. Patel denied such claims, saying there is no evidence to support them.
“There is no credible information—none,” Patel told Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana. “If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals.”
Patel later clarified that he was speaking only based on the FBI’s current files. “We have continuously publicly asked for the public to come forward with more information, if there is, we’ll look at it,” he said.
The courts won’t let him release the Epstein files
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland pressed Patel on why the files have not been fully released.
Patel insisted that “everything that has been lawfully permitted to be released has been released.” He added that officials rely on search warrants and other materials from the 2000s and are constrained by federal court rules.
“I’m not going to break the law to satisfy your curiosity,” Patel told Raskin.
Lawmakers also played clips of Patel’s previous statements, including a December 2023 interview in which he said, “put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are.” In another clip, he noted that Epstein’s black book was under “direct control of the director of the FBI.”
He will open an investigation into the Epstein estate
Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida called for the investigation of the Epstein estate for their release of the Epstein birthday letter due to the release of a “fake document with the president’s signature linking him to the world’s largest pedophile ring.” Moskowitz also pointed to the President’s repeated denials.
“Sure, I’ll do it,” Patel said.
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