Weissmann calls Blanche's Epstein-file claim a 'huge joke' as DOJ release timeline spurs clash

A former federal prosecutor condemned Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s claim that President Donald Trump has long sought to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, calling it "a huge joke" that is "basically treating the MAGA base as a bunch of fools." Andrew Weissmann, who has worked on high-profile investigations, said on MS NOW with Nicolle Wallace that if Trump wanted to release the material, he could have done so on day one of his presidency—and he hasn’t.

Blanche appeared on Fox News earlier Friday, arguing that the Justice Department would release "several hundred thousand" Epstein documents by the deadline, with more to come "over the next couple of weeks." The comments came as lawmakers pressed for the full, unredacted trove and as critics allege the department has redacted large portions without sufficient justification.

Democrats and some Republicans have accused the DOJ of failing to comply with the law and of applying heavy, unexplained redactions to hundreds of pages, prompting renewed calls for transparency in the Epstein matter.

Weissmann said Blanche’s framing of future releases was "an open acknowledgment that the administration is in violation of the law," arguing that a large portion of the Epstein story centers on material the DOJ has not produced. The dispute sits at the intersection of public accountability and the handling of sensitive material in a high-profile criminal case.

Trump’s stance on Epstein records has evolved over time. During the campaign, he floated the possibility of releasing the files, but after taking office he faced bipartisan pressure to disclose them and ultimately did not fulfill a broad, public release. The current debate underscores broader tensions about government transparency and the timing and scope of document disclosures in politically charged investigations.

Observers say the episode highlights ongoing disagreements between the executive branch and Congress over access to records tied to sensitive investigations, and it arrives at a moment when the public’s trust in how the Epstein matter has been handled remains a focal point in US politics.

With the legally mandated deadline and scrutiny from lawmakers continuing, questions remain about how much material will eventually be released and how much redaction will remain, leaving the Epstein file at the center of political debate in Washington.