GOP lawmakers warning Trump and Bondi not to withhold documents in Epstein files - eviltoast

Republican lawmakers have warned President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that withholding any documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein case “would add fuel to the fire.”

The warning comes as Trump caved to pressure and signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act Wednesday evening, while Bondi fumbled her way through questions on how the Justice Department would proceed now that it has 30 days to release the files.

Bondi has changed her stance on the matter a number of times this year, prompting fierce criticism from the MAGA base and beyond.

There are concerns from both sides of the aisle that she could cite the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s ties to Democratic associates, ordered by Trump last week, as a reason to withhold the files.

“You can adjust for whatever investigations are going on but if you do a blanket hold, I think that they’re going to have a lot of people angry,” GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told The Hill.

    • lectricleopard@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      They all know what it says. They’re done covering up for him to save their seat from a primary. The whole team flipped, so they all have cover from his response. They’re not going down as a whole party for the sake of this guy’s ego. For the first time. This is a big change publicly, but im sure that a majority have just been waiting for the page to turn on this guy’s popularity.

      Political wind socks.

      • krashmo@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        I call bullshit on this. Call me when they vote to impeach him. Until then this is just more of the same shenanigans.

        • lectricleopard@lemmy.world
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          8 days ago

          I think you have misunderstood me. Impeaching him wouldn’t help them keep their seat. The Epstein issue polls different.

    • minorkeys@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      Exactly. Even they don’t know. Democrats rely on threats of accountability but have little ability to hold anyone accountable.

  • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 days ago

    “You can adjust for whatever investigations are going on

    So in other words, they’re STILL not serious about transparency, knowing full well that those investigations are political theater to distract the base.

    • Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days ago

      Turns out that in the bill there is apparently a part that specifies any material withheld for investigative purposes needs a non redacted summary delivered in its place. So the authors seem to have some checks in place for shenanigans

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        7 days ago

        non redacted summary

        That’s nonsense. By virtue of being a summary, it’s going to exclude things at the discretion of the summarizer.

        Bill Barr’s proclamation that the Mueller report exonerated Trump was a summary. I’m not expecting any summary by Bondi or her underlings to be any more accurate or transparent.

  • MourningDove@lemmy.zipBanned
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    8 days ago

    …or they will be severely scorned and admonished. And if they continue causing trouble after the scorned admonishing, they will be summarily SLAMED.

    Anything after the initial SLAMming, will result in additional SLAMS.

  • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    The bill left them exceptions for ‘national security’ and ‘protecting the identities of innocent people’.

    They’re going to redact the shit out of them.

    • 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      7 days ago

      Anyone with more than 2 braincells knew the whole thing may be political theatre.

      Everyone shouting and brigading “release the Epstein files” on irrelevant posts across all of internet were just absolute retards. They must feel really accomplished when they get a black book with only democrats name lined up on the first page.

      The right is already mocking these incompetent fools and democrats again act like this isn’t acceptable and they’ll fight for the “people”.

      And a new round of “release something we can use to waste everyone’s time” will start.

  • Picasso@sh.itjust.works
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    8 days ago

    There is no way that any documents that show trumps name will released underacted or even better… just not released at all.

    • Jhex@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      maga definitely will try to hide them but there are so many docs and maga staff are so mediocre, it’s almost impossible they will not miss some

  • Foni@lemmy.zip
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    8 days ago

    I’m wondering if the DOJ is covering up this crap and an official is leaking it unedited. Would that official be committing a crime? I’m serious; I have no idea what the applicable laws would be.

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
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    8 days ago

    That is their last chance to hide the files. Do you really think they care about making people angry?