The United States Department of Justice has been accused of withholding documents related to allegations of sexual abuse involving Donald Trump, following claims raised by the top Democrat on the congressional committee investigating the activities of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Robert Garcia, a member of the United States House Oversight Committee, said he personally reviewed documents that contained unpublicised allegations of sexual abuse of a minor linked to Trump.
Responding to the accusation, the Justice Department stated that “nothing has been deleted,” explaining that any withheld materials were either duplicates, legally privileged, or connected to ongoing federal investigations.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the Epstein case, maintaining that he has been “totally exonerated.” The former president has also previously described some of the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.
The Justice Department has acknowledged that certain files contain what it described as “untrue and sensationalist claims” against Trump.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration had taken significant steps toward transparency, noting that the release of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents, cooperation with congressional subpoenas, and support for the Epstein Files Transparency Act demonstrated the president’s commitment to victims of abuse.
She added that Trump had also called for further investigations into Epstein’s associates within the Democratic Party, arguing that his administration had done more than any previous government to advance justice for Epstein’s victims.
Epstein and Trump were reportedly acquainted for several years before their relationship deteriorated in the early 2000s, about two years prior to Epstein’s first arrest on sex trafficking charges.
The federal government has released millions of pages of files detailing findings from investigations into Epstein’s activities. The staggered disclosures were carried out following presidential authorisation after earlier resistance to releasing the records.
Some documents were redacted to protect ongoing investigations and shield the identities of victims, while officials acknowledged that additional files were withheld under legal provisions allowing protection of sensitive investigative material.
Garcia claimed that the documents he reviewed contained “additional, specific allegations” made by a woman against Trump that were not reflected in publicly released records. He has written to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding full publication of the files.
In response, the Justice Department accused Democrats on the committee of attempting to “mislead the public and manufacture outrage” while pursuing what it described as a politically motivated narrative.
The department also stated that it would review whether any Epstein-related materials had been improperly withheld.
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