Rep. Dan Goldman Accuses DOJ of Withholding Epstein Files That Could Involve President Trump

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) claimed on a Daily Beast podcast that the Department of Justice is “covering up for Donald Trump” by redacting and refusing to release 2.5 million pages of documents tied to the late sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

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The documents are subject to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates release of all non-privileged material. Goldman says the DOJ’s redactions exceed any legitimate attorney-client privilege and that many withheld files are not duplicates, contrary to the agency’s explanation.

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• Dan Goldman – U.S. Representative (NY) leading the inquiry.

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• Department of Justice – Agency reviewing and releasing the files.

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• Donald Trump – Former president whose past ties to Epstein are under scrutiny.

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• Jeffrey Epstein – Deceased financier convicted of sex-trafficking.

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• Pam Bondi – Former Attorney General previously accused by Goldman of hiding documents.

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• 2022: Goldman accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein files to protect Trump.

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• Early 2024: In a Daily Beast interview, he demanded release of the 2.5 million pages and disputed the DOJ’s duplicate rationale.

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• February 2024: He proposed calling the collection the “Trump-Epstein files” during an MS NOW interview.

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Goldman reports that the DOJ has said the withheld material consists largely of duplicate files, implying no legal basis for continued redaction. No further official statements are cited.

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Goldman described the DOJ’s redaction process as “illegal” and argued the agency is misusing privileges to shield information that could implicate Trump. He noted that Congress members who examined a redacted document found no legitimate privilege claim.

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Goldman disputes the duplicate explanation, asserting the DOJ would have released the files if they were truly redundant. He also challenges the claim of attorney-client privilege, pointing out that the redacted document shown to Congress contained no protected content. The specific contents of the 2.5 million pages remain undisclosed.

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• “5 million files that have not been released.” — Dan Goldman, Representative (NY)

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• “One of the things they’ve said is they’re duplicates. If they’re duplicates, turn them over. There’s no reason not to,” — Dan Goldman

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• “Imagine what we can’t see in those two-and-a-half to three million files,” — Dan Goldman

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• “And you know, if Trump wants to put his name on everything as he does, then let’s start calling this the Trump-Epstein files.” — Dan Goldman

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If the withheld documents contain evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s network, their release could affect ongoing legal and political scrutiny of the former president. The dispute also raises questions about DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and congressional oversight authority.

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Goldman urges Congress to compel the DOJ to produce the full set of files, including any allegedly duplicate material. He suggests that renaming the collection the “Trump-Epstein files” may increase pressure for disclosure. No further DOJ actions are reported.

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